Chapter 265

Chapter 265

The imperial carriage, followed by the other two carriages, directly entered the End Gate and proceeded towards the Qianyuan Hall.

The Qianyuan Hall consisted of three sections: the front hall, the central hall, and the rear hall.

The front hall was where the emperor held court, separate from the other two halls.

The central hall was where the emperor handled daily government affairs, received officials, met with guests, and held banquets. The imperial kitchen and the imperial study were also located here.

The rear hall was the emperor's living quarters, divided into the main courtyard and the east and west wings, all of which were spacious courtyards.

Naturally, the main courtyard was the emperor's bedroom, the East Wing Courtyard was for the empress's stay, and the West Wing Courtyard was for other concubines. This was the arrangement made by the emperors of the previous dynasty. By the time of Xiao Zhen, the main courtyard became the residence for him and Tong Sui, the East Wing Courtyard was given to the little prince, and the West Wing Courtyard was converted into Tong Sui's study. The courtyard was large enough that if she wanted to practice archery, they could simply move a target over.

Worried about Tong Sui catching a chill, Xiao Zhen held her as they briefly toured around before quickly returning to their room.

Upon entering the inner chamber, Xiao Zhen helped Tong Sui undo two layers of her cloak and cape, allowing her to move freely again.

The heated floor made the inner chamber as warm as spring. Tong Sui's gaze slowly passed over the new furnishings inside, finally landing on the raised platform bed in the north.

The raised platform bed, more like a kang, was long and wide, large enough that even with a kang table, seven or eight people could sit around a mat and not feel crowded.

Xiao Zhen supported her as they walked over.

Tong Sui said, "This is too big."

Xiao Zhen replied, "It's better to be big. In winter, we can sleep in the same quilt, and in summer, when you don't like to be close to me, we can sleep at opposite ends."

Tong Sui gave him a sideways glance and said, "Ask the wet nurse to bring Chengzu over. Let's spend some time with the child, and have your aunt settle the other ladies in the eastern courtyard."

The aunt would stay with Chengzu in the palace for a period, staying in the palace during the day and returning home with her brother and cousin in the evening, only to re-enter the palace the next morning.

There were female doctors in the palace, but Tong Sui trusted her aunt more now.

Xiao Zhen left, chatting with Jiangshi for a while before bringing Chengzu in.

The little one had actually fallen asleep and lay obediently on the bed, not causing any worry to the emperor and empress.

Tong Sui also wanted to nap and looked at Xiao Zhen, "Shouldn't you be reviewing memorials?"

Xiao Zhen said, "...Today we are moving, so I'm resting in the afternoon."

With that, he quickly undressed and climbed into bed.

Considering how busy he had been recently, Tong Sui didn't push him away. But he had no intention of resting as he placed the cradle at the inner side of the large bed and then climbed into Tong Sui's quilt.

Outside, the weather was bitterly cold, but even if they couldn't do much, it was a joy for the couple to cuddle together.

——

Tong Sui and her child moved into the imperial palace, and apart from Xiao Zhen being happy, Sun Dian was also quite pleased. He deliberately left the Southern Camp half an hour earlier and waited for Xiao Ye at the Dingding Gate, who was returning from the eastern camp.

Xiao Ye returned to the city with Lu Gong, and his second brother told him to learn from Lu Gong. Xiao Ye treated Lu Gong with great respect, showing no airs of a prince.

Guessing that Sun Dian had something to discuss with Xiao Ye, Lu Gong entered the city first.

Sun Dian sized up Xiao Ye and deliberately asked, "Want to drink with me?"

Sun Dian said, "Sure, let's have a drink at your Marquis’s residence."

Since Xiao Zhen became Emperor but didn't immediately move into the palace, the two mansions of the Xiao Family were guarded by the Imperial Guard. The presence of the guards made it harder for Sun Dian to drop by as freely as before, resulting in over a month since he last saw Liu Chu.

Xiao Ye looked around at the empty surroundings and still spoke in a low voice, "You can go, but I can't guarantee that the Grand Princess will want to see you."

Sun Dian raised his eyebrows, "Why wouldn't she want to?"

Xiao Ye said, "Things are different now. Although you are a Marquis, my sister's status as Grand Princess is even more prestigious. In the past, she didn't have the opportunity to meet men outside the family. Now that she's about to live in her own residence, she might take a liking to some handsome young gentleman when she goes out for a stroll. Why would she marry you, a rough general in his thirties?"

Sun Dian said, "Don't think that just because you're a Prince now, I won't dare to beat you up!"

Xiao Ye replied, "Try and beat me. If you do, you won't even be able to enter the Marquis’s residence."

Sun Dian remained quiet, lost in thought.

Xiao Ye laughed and walked ahead.

Sun Dian followed moodily. While waiting in line at the city gate, he saw a young man dressed in silk and instinctively touched the old scar at the corner of his eye.

He had always been just decent-looking. In his youth, he lost to Xiao Da because he wasn't as handsome. Now that he was older and had a scar, he felt even more insecure.

For the rest of the way, Sun Dian didn't say a word.

When they arrived at the lane where the Xiao Family lived, the Imperial Guard had indeed withdrawn. Inside the Marquis’s residence, Xiao Ye and his wife lived in the eastern courtyard, while Liu Chu and her child lived in the western courtyard.

Xiao Ye invited Sun Dian to the martial arts training ground for a friendly sparring session. Yan Mingxiu, in cooperation, went to invite Liu Chu and her daughter to watch.

Liu Chu hesitated. Her relationship with Tong Sui and Yan Mingxiu was different, so she felt awkward accepting Yan Mingxiu’s matchmaking.

Mianmian whispered, "Mother, I want to go. Fourth Uncle always talks about how great his spear skills are. I want to see if he can win against Uncle Sun."

Only then did Liu Chu agree.

The three of them went to the martial arts training ground and found that there were no servants present. Xiao Ye and Sun Dian had already started their match.

Sun Dian, being distracted, quickly lost to Xiao Ye. Even though he had already put his spear away, Xiao Ye still thrust his spear towards Sun Dian’s shoulder.

Sun Dian remained quiet, lost in thought.

Xiao Ye said, "Ah, the Marquis is injured. I'll go get some medicine for you!"

He ran off, and Mianmian had already gone to the restroom with Yan Mingxiu.

It was getting dark. Liu Chu, seeing Xiao Ye running away, looked at Sun Dian, who was approaching with his spear, and felt her heart race.

She quickly walked around to the side of the weapon rack and said to Sun Dian, "Just stand there and don't come over."

Sun Dian agreed, placing his spear on the rack. Through the gaps in the weapon rack, he looked at her. She was about to turn thirty after the new year, but she hadn't changed much from her younger days. Her long hair, which used to hang down, was now coiled into a married woman's hairstyle. However, she no longer seemed as carefree as she used to be. There was always a faint worry in her eyes, like the most timid rabbit in the mountains, startled by the slightest disturbance.

"Liu'er, do you still want to marry me?" Sun Dian’s chest felt tight, and his voice was muffled.

Liu Chu lowered her head, "Why are you asking this?"

Sun Dian said, "Fourth Son mentioned that you are now a Grand Princess and might look down on me."

Liu Chu replied, "The Emperor and Empress have been very kind to me, and I dare not rely on my status."

Sun Dian said, "Don't think like that. Forget that you carried Xiao Da's bloodline, just based on the years of hard work you put into the Xiao Family, this Grand Princess title is well-deserved. Liu'er, you should learn from Yu Chan. When it's time to assert yourself, do it. Even if you don't assert yourself with outsiders, you shouldn't let the maids and servants in the residence take advantage of you."

Living in your own residence is freeing, but with your temperament, even as a Grand Princess, you might still struggle with cunning servants.

Liu Chu's eyes moistened silently. Similar words had been spoken to her recently by Tong Sui, Lin Ningfang, and Aunt Xiao.

Sun Dian watched her as she turned away to wipe her tears, her delicate white earlobes visible. He gripped the pole of the weapon rack and asked, "Liu'er, give me a definite answer. Do you still want to marry me?"

Liu Chu nodded through her tears.

Her relatives and friends had already gone their separate ways, and her daughter now had her own princely residence. Liu Chu didn't want to live in loneliness and isolation.

Perhaps other men would come forward with proposals, but they would only be interested in her status as Grand Princess. Only Sun Dian knew who she really was.

Sun Dian was overjoyed and, with a strong exertion of force, shook the entire weapon rack.

"Should I come directly to your princess residence to propose, or should I ask the Emperor and Empress to grant our marriage?"

Liu Chu thought for a moment and said, "Come directly to my residence. As the elder sister of the Emperor, without parents alive, I can make my own decisions."

Given that she had once been the Emperor's sister-in-law, receiving his tacit approval to remarry was already a tremendous honor. How could she ask the Emperor to issue an edict to marry his former sister-in-law to another man?

Sun Dian: "Good! I'll send a message home immediately, asking my father and mother to come to the capital city for the New Year. We'll marry after the New Year!"

—

On the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, the emperor and empress held a celebration for the first full month of the imperial prince. Royal family members and civil and military officials were all invited.

The banquet was held in the Qianyuan Hall, one of the main halls in the imperial palace. Xiao Zhen entertained the officials in the front hall, while Tong Sui hosted the ladies of the inner court in the west warm pavilion of the central hall.

Madam He and other ladies of the inner court arrived earliest. Xiao Yuchan wanted to go outside for a visit, but Lin Ningfang stopped her with a glance. The emperor's residence was already making an exception by hosting female guests; even a cousin should not wander around freely.

Among the outer court ladies, several marquis's wives arrived first.

Tong Sui was familiar with Madam Feng, Lady Lu, and Lady Lu's daughter-in-law.

When accepting Lady Lu's greeting, Tong Sui asked, "Why didn't you bring Miss Qiu?"

She had visited the Duke of Lu's residence before and met Lu Gong's precious daughter. At thirteen or fourteen, she was stunningly beautiful, her manners elegant yet hiding an endearing innocence. Her voice was delicate, more moving than the best-sounding bird in the mountains. Now sixteen, who knew how beautiful she had become.

Lady Lu smiled and said, "She's been spoiled and doesn't know proper etiquette. It's better for her to stay home."

Madam Feng, who was nearby, smiled upon hearing this. She knew the inside story. Earlier, when Empress Guo had considered marrying Miss Qiu to the Xianqing Emperor, Lu Gong became extremely anxious, rarely allowing his daughter to go out. After the Xianqing Emperor ascended the throne, Lu Gong became even more protective. Now, with the new emperor, even though the emperor and empress are deeply in love, Miss Qiu's beauty could still stir up trouble in the palace. Why take the risk?

After Lady Lu and her daughter-in-law retreated, it was the turn of Madam Qi and her daughter-in-law to pay their respects.

Tong Sui inquired, "Has Qi Yun returned from Hanzhou?"

Madam Qi had always been timid. She had been the same when paying respects to Empress Guo in the past, and although she was slightly better with Tong Sui, she nervously replied, "Yes, he returned the day before yesterday. Upon hearing the news of the Empress's joyous occasion of giving birth to a son, he was very pleased and is currently in the front hall paying his respects to the Emperor."

For the other official wives, Tong Sui simply accepted their greetings.

When the banquet ended, the outer court ladies left first.

Tong Sui, concerned about Liu Chu and Sun Dian's marriage, called Madam He, Lady Xiao, and other relatives to the warm pavilion. She took Liu Chu to the inner room and quietly asked, "It hasn't been convenient before, but has Sun Dian visited you in the past couple of days?"

Liu Chu blushed and nodded.

Tong Sui smiled and said, "Is a wedding soon to follow?"

Liu Chu: "He... he said he would bring Uncle Sun and Aunt Sun to the capital city for the New Year."

Tong Sui: "That's great. As a Grand Princess, you can live with Sun Dian in the Marquis's residence or stay in your own princess residence. If Mianmian prefers, she can live with you; if she feels uncomfortable, she can stay in the neighboring princess residence. It won't affect your daytime closeness with your daughter at all."

Liu Chu: "Should we let the Emperor know?"

Tong Sui: "I’ll handle it with him. But don’t worry, he’s pleased that someone trustworthy is taking care of you."

During the six years when Xiao Zhen and his brothers were fighting outside, it was Liu Chu who looked after the old man’s daily needs with great care. That’s why, before he passed away, he remembered to set Liu Chu free, and Xiao Zhen was also willing to look after Liu Chu as if she were family.

Those were tough years, and the bond forged through shared hardships is something that stays with you forever.

This was true for her and Xiao Zhen, and the same went for their other family members and close friends.