Chapter 192

Chapter 192

On days without the small or grand court meetings, Xiao Shen could usually wake up together with Tong Sui.

But once he had more time to spare, he liked to indulge a bit more.

"Enough."

Inside the double gauze curtains, Tong Sui urged him by pulling at the hair on the back of his neck, "The maids are coming soon."

Xiao Shen: "Who’s more important, them or me?"

Tong Sui, unable to argue with him, turned her head away, and after holding back for a while, couldn't help muttering, "It was like this when we first got married, and you’re still the same now."

Xiao Shen: "You want to count? Fine, let’s do the math."

He changed his position, wrapping his arms around her from behind, which conveniently allowed him to count into her ear, "On the fifth day of the third month two years ago, you married me. Today is the seventh day of the second month. It's been twenty-three months and two days since we got married. However, in October of that year, we moved to Wei County. As soon as we entered the city, we were busy dealing with the rebel king, and then followed the Emperor south. It wasn't until the end of last year that we moved into this house. During those fifteen months, we hardly slept together, which means we've only truly been a couple for eight months."

Tong Sui bit her lip.

Xiao Shen: "What, are you already tired of me after just eight months?"

Tong Sui buried her face in the pillow.

As she turned, Xiao Shen flipped her over and asked in a coercive manner over her head, "Are you tired?"

Tong Sui grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him.

Xiao Shen grabbed the pillow with one hand and pinned her arm behind her back. Fortunately, the room was heated by the underfloor heating system, so the couple wouldn't catch a cold despite their roughhousing.

After about a quarter of an hour, Xiao Shen got out of bed, and when he returned from the bathroom after relieving himself, he saw her sitting amidst the brocade, dressing, through the gauze curtains.

Xiao Shen leaned against the wall and watched for a while, until Tong Sui, about to hang the outer layer of the gauze curtain, finally noticed him.

He looked like a rogue, and Tong Sui glared at him before turning to sit at the vanity.

A four-paneled silk gauze screen embroidered with flowers and birds on both sides was placed in front of the canopy bed. On the left side of the screen, there was an elegant yet simple garment rack. The top bar of the rack was only waist-high, with a luxurious peony carved on each end. Their clothes for today were hanging on that round rod.

Xiao Shen came over, touched her light willow-colored satin jacket, and asked, "Why are you wearing something so plain today? The gold-threaded red jacket you wore yesterday looked great."

Tong Sui: "That one was too flashy. I wore it yesterday to show off our family status in Jingshan Ward. We aren’t going out today."

Xiao Shen: "Suit yourself. When I’m on leave, you can wear it again."

Tong Sui: "..."

After washing up, the couple went to the front hall together.

Xiao Ye and Liu Chu were already present. Xiao Ye was listening intently as Mianmian recited an article.

Xiao Shen mocked his younger brother, "Even if Mianmian makes a mistake, would you notice?"

Xiao Ye: "My niece is so smart; she wouldn't make mistakes. Big Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, don’t you agree?"

The sisters-in-law both laughed.

The maids set the breakfast table, and the five family members sat down.

Liu Chu glanced at the people around her and said nostalgically, "It feels strange to suddenly be apart."

"Back in Lingshui Village, our family of over a dozen people would sit at two tables, and it would still feel cramped. There was so much chatter, it was unbelievably lively."

Tong Sui said, "Grandfather has said that on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month, as well as during festivals, the whole family will still gather together. It would be inconvenient to travel back and forth regularly."

Liu Chu nodded.

Xiao Ye said, "Third Sister-in-law will be managing the household and won't have time to teach Mianmian anymore. Should we hire one tutor for Mianmian or one tutor to teach both her and Yao Ge Er?"

Xiao Zhen said, "Hire one tutor to teach both of them, and hire a separate female tutor for Mianmian."

Tong Sui said, "One female tutor isn’t sufficient. Besides needlework, she also needs to learn musical instruments, as well as chess and painting lessons. Mianmian can try them all out, and we can drop the ones she doesn't like."

Xiao Ye, holding his bowl, looked over in shock. "That's a bit excessive. Thank goodness you’re my second sister-in-law and not my second auntie."

Xiao Zhen kicked him under the table. "No manners."

Xiao Ye ignored him and said to his niece, "Mianmian, don't worry. We’ll learn whatever we want. There’s no need to learn all those miscellaneous things, and don't exhaust yourself."

Tong Sui: "..."

Liu Chu smiled and said, "Fourth Brother is talking nonsense. Your second sister-in-law is doing this for Mianmian's benefit, to raise her as a true lady of a prestigious family."

Xiao Ye said, "I understand the reasoning, of course. I just feel sorry for Mianmian. She’s only ten and shouldn’t lose her playtime."

Mianmian said, "I want to learn all of these. Many people wish they had the chance, and I’m happy to have these opportunities, so I don’t feel tired."

Xiao Zhen said, "Not bad. You show more promise than your fourth uncle."

Tong Sui said, "I’ll discuss this with Third Sister-in-law. She’s good at handling these matters."

Xiao Zhen said, "Don't forget Xiao Shan also needs a tutor. He’s fourteen and should start preparing earnestly, beginning with the child scholar examination."

Xiao Ye: "...You and Second Sister-in-law are a perfect match."

Tong Sui glared at him, and Xiao Zhen just smiled without kicking his brother again.

After breakfast, the two brothers went to their duties, while Tong Sui and her two children went to the Duke's residence.

Aunt Xiao returned to Luoyang the previous day. Lin Ningfang, Madam He, and Xiao Yuchan were talking. Six-year-old Qi Yao stood next to his mother, behaving well.

Tong Sui said, "What are you discussing?"

Xiao Yuchan sighed, "I want to go out for a stroll, but Third Sister-in-law told me to memorize the details of some prominent families in Qinghua Fang before going out."

Tong Sui said, "That makes sense. In the village, when there are minor disagreements between villagers, a few curses are enough. But in the city, especially among the prominent families, if you encounter someone who is reasonable and broad-minded, it's fine. But if you meet someone petty and unreasonable, they might cause trouble for you even in official settings. Since we're new here, it’s better to be cautious and avoid inviting such trouble."

Madam He said, "Yes, listen to Ningfang about this. Only go out when she gives the okay."

Tong Sui stifled her laughter and looked at Lin Ningfang.

Lin Ningfang remained as composed and dignified as ever.

Liu Chu asked, "How is Third Brother's injury?"

Lin Ningfang replied, "The swelling has decreased significantly. The Emperor told him to rest and recover, so he's staying home and copying books in the study, following Grandfather’s instructions."

Madam He said, "You all continue your chat. I’ll go check on him."

Tong Sui looked at Qi Yao and brought up the matter of hiring a tutor.

Lin Ningfang said, "I've been thinking about this on our journey to the capital. Several of the tutors who previously taught my siblings and me would be quite suitable. I'll send someone to inquire about their current situation. If it's convenient, we'll hire the female tutors, but for the male tutors, we'll have to trouble the Marquis to make the visit. Yao is still young, but we need to focus on Xiaoshan's studies."

Tong Sui felt a warm feeling in her heart. The tutors who had taught the Lin family siblings were certainly erudite scholars. For such scholars, it was fitting for Xiao Zhen to make the request as a gesture of respect.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, my sister-in-law," she said.

Lin Ningfang smiled. "There's no need to be polite, Second Sister-in-law."

Good tutors are highly sought after, especially now that Luoyang shows signs of prosperity, making them more valued than during the war-torn years.

Lin Ningfang immediately wrote down the approximate addresses of several tutors and sent a servant to gather information.

As for the prominent families in Qinghua Fang, Tong Sui had already compiled a list and some basic information about each family, such as any notable figures in their past or present, and whether their reputation was good or bad, as well as the temperaments of the family members.

Although Tong Sui had little experience as a matriarch, she had assisted Old Master in managing sixty to seventy thousand soldiers in the military camp. To deal with the enemy, she needed to understand them thoroughly. Thus, the information she gathered on the neighborhoods would be more detailed than that of an ordinary lady of the household.

What she presented today was already filtered, concealing any unspeakable secrets from ordinary neighbors to prevent her family from revealing too much and creating enemies.

In addition to the prominent families in Qinghua Fang, Tong Sui had also sent people to gather information on old and influential families throughout Luoyang. Her motive was simple: understanding others would prevent unintentional offenses, and if anyone posed a threat to her family, they could quickly devise a countermeasure.

She had discussed this matter with Old Master and Xiao Zhen, and both had expressed their support.

Luoyang is undoubtedly a good place, but the key is whether the Xiao Family can establish a firm foothold there.

——

With a plan in place for hiring tutors, the four sisters-in-law were about to go their separate ways to attend to their tasks. For example, Tong Sui hadn't yet organized the luggage she brought from Weixian. At that moment, maids from both the Duke's residence and the Marquis’s residence came to inform them that someone had arrived from the palace.

At the Marquis’s residence, it was specifically mentioned that the Anguo Lady was requested.

Tong Sui asked Liu Chu to stay at the Duke's residence while she hurried to the Marquis’s residence, slowing down only as she neared the front yard and adjusting her breathing.

The steward had already escorted the eunuch into the hall.

Seeing Tong Sui, the middle-aged eunuch, who looked to be in his thirties, put down his teacup and stood up, smiling as he greeted her. "Greetings, Lady Anguo. I am Zhang, a servant who attends to Her Majesty the Empress."

Surprised, Tong Sui bowed respectfully and said, "Does Her Majesty have any orders?"

Eunuch Zhang smiled. "It’s not exactly an order. On the twelfth of February, there will be a grand ceremony for the Empress's coronation. Her Majesty said that she would like to meet the families of the meritorious ministers before the ceremony, as there will be too many people on the day of the coronation, and she won't have the chance to chat with the ladies."

Tong Sui, flattered, replied, "It would be my honor to see Her Majesty’s divine visage."

Eunuch Zhang said, "Then, on the morning of the ninth, I hope you will enter the palace early, Lady."

Tong Sui responded, "I will follow Her Majesty's oral decree."

As Eunuch Zhang left, Ruyi, Tong Sui’s senior maid, followed behind and discreetly slipped a purse to him with a smile.

Ruyi, Jixiang, and Jinxiu were Tong Sui’s three senior maids, besides A Fu. Their names were chosen by Tong Sui, and Xiao Zhen had teased her about them for a long time. Tong Sui knew the names were quite common, but she liked the auspicious meanings they conveyed. They were certainly more elegant than the four ‘Jin’ names of Xiao Yuchan’s maids.

After seeing off Eunuch Zhang, Tong Sui returned to the Duke’s residence, where she found Madam He slumped in a chair, her face pale and her forehead drenched in sweat.

Tong Sui asked, "Second Aunt, what’s wrong?"

Xiao Yuchan, holding her stomach and laughing, said, "Mother fainted as soon as she heard that the Empress wanted her and Third Sister-in-law to enter the palace on the morning of the ninth. She embarrassed herself in front of the eunuch."

Madam He, still feeling weak, lacked the energy to glare at her daughter.

Liu Chu didn't smile, only felt relieved that Her Majesty the Empress hadn't called on her; otherwise, she might have been just as frightened.

To maintain the dignity of the Xiao Family, Lin Ningfang comforted Lady He, "Mother, there's no need to worry. Even common households have gatherings, and officials' wives often have such gatherings, be it flower appreciation or watching operas, all to keep the Empress entertained. Just remember the etiquette I’ve taught you, follow the palace rules, and be careful in what you say and do, and everything will be fine."

Tong Sui added, "Besides, you won't be going alone; I and my third sister-in-law will be accompanying you."

Ah Zhen brought some tea and helped Lady He drink it, feeling quite satisfied seeing Lady He so frightened.

Once Lady He had calmed down a bit, she immediately turned to her daughter-in-law for help, "Tell me about the palace regulations!"

Back in Wei County, she had only learned the manners of noblewomen from her daughter-in-law; she hadn't even visited Qinghua Fang, and now she was about to enter the palace.