Chapter 269

Chapter 269

It had only been a short time since Emperor Xiao Zhen ascended the throne, and numerous important matters were piling up on his desk. Prime Minister Song didn't have the heart to bother the emperor with the trivial matters of his son. However, since the emperor had brought up his son on his own initiative, Song decided to speak to Xiao Zhen two days later, when Tong Sui was not around. He said, "Your Majesty, my humble son has been studying in the Hanlin Academy for several years. Alas, he lacks talent and hasn't shown much progress. Recently, there has been a vacancy for a county magistrate in Qingzhou. I humbly request that Your Majesty grant him the opportunity to gain experience there. If he can do some practical work for the local people, it will not have been a waste of his years of study."

Song Zhishi currently holds the position of Hanlin Academy compiler, which is of the same rank as a county magistrate, both being seventh-rank positions.

However, officials in the Hanlin Academy, who serve directly under the emperor, have better chances of gaining imperial favor and promotions than those posted elsewhere.

Xiao Zhen asked, "Is this your wish, Prime Minister Song, or is it the wish of your esteemed son? Don't tell me you're trying to avoid any appearance of impropriety by sending your son away."

Song Lan replied, "No, it was my son who spoke to me. He believes that the Hanlin Academy is filled with talented individuals and that he cannot compare to his colleagues in both learning and character. He is often troubled by this and feels as if he's wasting away. It is with great audacity that I ask Your Majesty to send him for external experience."

Xiao Zhen said, "I understand. I will think about it and give you a reply by tomorrow morning."

That night, Xiao Zhen deliberately waited until the couple was in bed before bringing up the matter to Tong Sui. He said, "Tell me, is Song Zhishi really lacking in talent, or is Prime Minister Song afraid that I might hold a grudge against them and seek to settle old scores by moving Song Zhishi away?"

As he spoke, he held Tong Sui from behind, playing with her earlobe with one hand while preparing for what was to come with the other.

Tong Sui replied, "What old grievances could there possibly be?"

Xiao Zhen said, "There are. You might not have noticed, but every time I go with you to visit your family, Song Zhishi looks dissatisfied with me, and his words are laced with hidden barbs."

Tong Sui said, "I haven’t noticed."

Xiao Zhen propped himself up, turned her face toward him, and asked earnestly, "Why do you think he is dissatisfied with me?"

Tong Sui swatted his hand away and said, "I don't know. I'm sleepy. You figure it out."

Xiao Zhen pulled her back, pinning her wrists above her head, refusing to let her go.

Tong Sui glared at him.

Xiao Zhen said, "After giving it some thought, I believe he might be jealous of how handsome I am."

Tong Sui bit her lip, struggling not to laugh.

Xiao Zhen asked, "What's so funny? Do you think he is better-looking than me?"

Tong Sui said, "No."

Xiao Zhen continued to look at her, unsure if he believed her or if he just wanted to hear her say more.

Tong Sui thought for a moment and said, "He is indeed good-looking, like a tall, straight tree on a mountain."

A tree is wonderful, especially in spring, when it's lush and green, a sight that is pleasing to the eye.

Xiao Zhen pursed his lips.

Seeing that he was about to lose his playful expression, Tong Sui continued, "But no matter how good-looking a tree is, any farmer can come and cut it down."

She was reminded of the time when the Xiao Family asked the villagers of Taohuagou to help cut down trees. The villagers rushed to earn the money, and hundreds of trees fell in no time.

Xiao Zhen understood her meaning and asked, "If he is a tree, what am I?"

Tong Sui turned her face away.

Xiao Zhen used one arm to support her back and the back of her head, his gaze almost touching hers, and asked in a low voice, "What am I?"

Tong Sui lowered her gaze and softly said, "You are a mountain, like the one that stands firm in Taohuagou..."

The mountain behind us is called Longxing Mountain.

Before the age of nineteen, all Tong Sui knew of Longxing Mountain was the section behind Taohuagou. Though it was just a section, it made all the surrounding hills look like mere anthills. Yet no matter how magnificent it was, to the villagers of Taohuagou, it was just a familiar mountain they were accustomed to.

When she first married Xiao Zhen, he was much the same. He was stronger and more outstanding than the other young men in the village, but no matter how outstanding he was, he was still just the grandson of a low-ranking military officer. He had to hunt in the mountains to supplement the family income and work in the fields like everyone else.

After leaving Wei County, on the journey from the north of Jinzhou to the south, Tong Sui discovered that Longxing Mountain stretched for hundreds of miles. The highest peak of Longxing Mountain was much taller than the section behind Taohuagou, with perpetual snow at its summit.

After leaving Wei County, Xiao Zhen also began to gradually display his talents. He was no longer just the grandson of a minor officer from Lingshui Village. He could become a general, subdue the border troops, intimidate court officials, and was eventually supported by civil and military ministers as emperor.

No matter how vast the forest, it could be cleared by men or burned down in a fire, but the hundred-mile-long Longxing Mountain would forever stand tall on the land of Jinzhou, impossible to topple or exhaust by human effort. The northwest wind that had blown for thousands of years only made the peaks of Longxing Mountain steeper and more magnificent.

Tong Sui wrapped her arms around Xiao Zhen's neck, without meeting his gaze, and whispered in his ear, "Don't be bitter. No one can match you."

Xiao Zhen didn't move for a long time, until Tong Sui could no longer hold the position and was about to lie back down. Xiao Zhen suddenly flipped over, putting himself below and Tong Sui above.

He cupped Tong Sui's face and demanded, "Say that again."

Tong Sui hit him.

The laughter of the emperor and empress echoed in the imperial bedroom.

The next day, Xiao Zhen approved Song Zhishi's request for an external post and handed Song Lan an additional task, "Empress Tong Sui has been reminiscing about the mountains of Taohuagou. Prime Minister Song, if you have time, please paint a few pictures, preferably capturing the scenery of that area through the four seasons."

Song Lan: "...I accept the order."

On the twenty-fifth day of the second month, a lucky day according to the almanac, suitable for marriages.

This was the day set for the wedding of Sun Dian and the Grand Princess.

Tong Sui had cleared her schedule for those two days. Early on the twenty-fourth, she would leave the palace and spend the night at the Grand Princess's mansion.

Lying on the imperial bed, Xiao Zhen watched her eagerly select the clothes she would wear out of the palace and said softly, "Leaving me and Chengzu behind to go have fun on your own."

Tong Sui smiled, "You can come to Sun Dian's place for the wedding banquet tomorrow night."

Xiao Zhen: "If I go, they'll feel uncomfortable."

He had been emperor for almost four months, and now even Fourth Son rarely called him Second Brother anymore. Third Brother had become more formal, only Fifth Brother still acted as freely as before in front of him.

Tong Sui: "Because you naturally carry a lot of prestige. With me, Eldest Sister Ningfang, and Mingxiu, it's fine, even Second Aunt Yu Chan dares to chat casually with me in private."

Xiao Zhen: "Forget it, go if you want. Tonight, let Chengzu sleep with me."

Tong Sui: "What time will you return the day after tomorrow?"

Leaving Xiao Zhen behind, Tong Sui left the palace with A Fu, accompanied by Xiao She, the Prince of Wu Commandery, who was known for his bravery and had been specially assigned by Xiao Zhen to protect her.

Madam He, Xiao Zhen's paternal aunt, and others were already at the Grand Princess's mansion. Tomorrow, the groom's side would come to welcome the bride, but today was for the bride's family and friends to come and contribute to the bride's trousseau. This included Tong Sui's mother, aunts, cousins, the wives of several marquises and dukes who were close to the Xiao family, and Liu Chu.

Some new neighbors and ladies Tong Sui had met after moving to the Grand Princess's mansion were also present.

The carriage stopped outside the Grand Princess's mansion. Tong Sui said to Xiao She, "Once I'm inside, I won't be coming out again. Do you want to eat here or drink at the Sun family's place?"

Xiao She: "My second brother told me to guard you. I'll wait here. I'm not going anywhere."

Tong Sui: "You're really taking your job seriously, huh? Fine, come in and join us for some tea."

Xiao She: "..."

Xiao She entered like a wild bear barging into a garden of flowers. There was the gentle Liu Chu, concerned about his daily life in the Wu Commandery Prince’s residence; the dignified and elegant Third Elder Sister-in-law, who gave him a slight smile; the sweetly smiling Fourth Elder Sister-in-law, who was pregnant and praised him for his formidable appearance; his own loud-voiced mother, nagging about his marriage; and his elder sister, dressed in her finest, laughing heartily with schadenfreude. Xiao Yuchan felt comfortable talking freely around him.

Xiao She: "... Second Sister-in-law, are you really not going out?"

Tong Sui: "No, just come tomorrow with Sun Dian to welcome the bride. After the wedding luncheon, escort me back to the palace, then you can go drink at the wedding feast."

Xiao She: "So, should I go now?"

Xiao Yuchan: "Go, go. If you're here, we have to mind you, and there are many things we can't say."

Xiao She snorted and strode out. Just as he reached the entrance of the Grand Princess's mansion, a carriage slowly stopped outside.

Xiao She continued walking out.

The maid by the carriage set up the footstool and lifted the curtain, and a young lady peeked out.

Xiao She took another step.

The young lady fully turned around.

Xiao She's raised foot hovered in the air before instinctively lowering his foot, but both feet stopped moving, as if he had suddenly been frozen, gazing intently at the pink-clad lady standing on the carriage shaft looking over.

In that moment, Xiao She recalled the time he followed Changshun and his elder cousin to climb over the wall and steal peonies for Second Sister-in-law's birthday. Standing in front of the flower bed, he found a delicate pink peony. Its white-tinged petals gently swayed in the breeze. Xiao She's hand reached out several times but couldn't bear to pluck it, so he picked some larger ones nearby.

Lu Qiu glared at the rude bear of a man, then descended from the carriage with the maid's help and stood to the side.

Soon, both Lu Madam and Lu Lady descended, while Xiao She was still staring straight at Lu Qiu.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law both recognized Xiao She and hurriedly bowed. "We greet you, Prince of Wu Commandery."

Lu Qiu, seeing that the Prince of Wu Commandery was still looking at her, couldn't help but laugh. Many men were captivated by her beauty, but Xiao She was the most dazed, and his gaze was the purest, lacking the things she disliked.

It was only when the gatekeeper of the Grand Princess's mansion ran over and tugged at Xiao She's sleeve, reminding the Prince of Wu Commandery to quickly exempt Lu Madam and Lu Lady from the formalities.

Xiao She snapped out of it, but two of his three glances were still on Lu Qiu. "No... no need for formalities."

Lu Madam: "Is the Prince here to contribute to the Grand Princess's wedding preparations?"

Xiao She: "I'm here to escort the Empress."

Lu Madam, surprised: "The Empress is here? Then, Prince, please make yourself at home. We will go and pay our respects to the Empress first."

Xiao She nodded and stepped aside, his eyes still fixed on Lu Qiu.

As Lu Qiu followed her grandmother and mother, about to pass by Xiao She, she suddenly stopped and looked up at him.

Her eyes, like two delicate peonies, met his gaze, and Xiao She felt his face and chest grow warm, as if he had drunk too much wine.

Not understanding why, he instinctively stepped back and turned his head away.

Lu Qiu found it amusing and asked, "Are you the Prince of Wu Commandery, whom even my father couldn't best?"

Xiao She, recalling his defeated opponent Lu Gong, puffed out his chest. "Yes!"

Lu Qiu: "Impressive as you are, how can you be so rude, staring at me like that?"

Xiao She immediately turned his head. "I, I didn't."

Lu Qiu let out a dismissive scoff. "So you're a Prince who doesn't stand up for himself, huh?"

Seeing how broad-shouldered the Prince of Wu Commandery was, almost as wide as two of her granddaughters combined, Lady Ru panicked. "Qiu'er, don't be rude! Quickly apologize to the Prince!"

This man was impulsive. What if he didn’t understand how to cherish the fairer sex and decided to lift her granddaughter up and scold her?

Lu Qiu let out a hum, gave a half-hearted curtsy to Xiao She, and started to walk away.

A large hand suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm.

Lu Qiu turned around in shock.

Xiao She, looking at her face, stammered in his defense, "I'm not a Prince who doesn't stand up for himself. I, I was staring at you, but I didn’t mean to be rude."

Lu Qiu said, "That's not what you said just now."

Xiao She replied, "I was wrong. I’m sorry."

Lu Qiu said, "Fine, I’ll let it slide. Now let go."

Xiao She obediently let go, his eyes once again landing on her face.

Lu Qiu, amused, asked, "Look, you're staring again. Why are you looking at me?"

Lu Qiu smiled, her expression so charming, and Xiao She replied, "I don’t know why, but you remind me of a peony I saw once."

Lu Qiu asked, "Is that so? So, which one is prettier—me or the peony?"

Xiao She answered, "Both are pretty."

Lu Qiu’s smile faltered, and she shot him a glare before turning on her heel and walking inside.

Xiao She: "..."

He hadn’t lied this time, so why did she glare at him?!