Surviving in the General's Mansion - Chapter 45

“Ministers, present your memorials if you have business. If not, court is dismissed!”

“Long live His Majesty! Long live, long live the Emperor!”

After court, the officials dragged their stiff bodies toward the exit.

“Lord Xiao! Lord Xiao, please wait. His Majesty invites you to speak with him in the Imperial Study.”

Eunuch Sixi hurried to catch up.

The ministers all understood. The Emperor wanted to brief the newly appointed Minister of Revenue on his duties and reminisce about old times while he was at it.

Xiao Huan gave a few instructions to his acting Vice Minister of Revenue, Mu Yan, and told him to leave first.

He then followed Eunuch Sixi to the Imperial Study.

The moment Sixi opened the door, Xiao Huan saw Dongfang Wei standing inside, waiting for him.

The new emperor who had made every minister in the audience hall afraid to breathe now looked unexpectedly awkward.

At last, he resembled the boy Xiao Huan remembered.

“This subject, Xiao Huan, greets Your Majesty.”

Dongfang Wei hurried forward to stop him from kneeling.

“Uncle Xiao, please don’t put me in such an embarrassing position.”

“Ritual cannot be neglected.”

Xiao Huan rose with a broad smile, allowing Dongfang Wei to pull him up.

“Guangji is the sovereign of the realm now.”

“Uncle Xiao, back then…”

“Don’t mention the past.”

Xiao Huan waved a hand and smiled.

“This subject did not spend these last dozen years without gaining anything. Now I have returned to the capital and, thanks to my daughter, reentered court. I only hope I won’t betray Guangji’s trust!

“Oh, does Guangji still remember Yaqing?”

“How could I forget?” Dongfang Wei murmured.

“Ha ha! You were good playmates as children. Mingxu was there too.”

“Yaqing… Is she well?” Dongfang Wei could not help asking.

“Well, very well. She’s just as mischievous as she was when she was little. Not a day passes without some new disturbance, and she still runs all over the place despite her age.

“Ah, now that we’ve returned to the capital, it’s time for her to settle down and find a suitable husband.”

Dongfang Wei’s breathing stopped for a beat.

Xiao Huan did not notice and continued talking.

“Truthfully, when we were on the Southern Border, first, this subject was so busy I barely touched the ground, and second, I never met a promising young man who caught my eye.

“One thing led to another, and the child’s marriage was delayed.

“Later, her mother and I discussed it and decided we might as well wait until we returned to the capital.

“Now we can finally look carefully. Does Guangji know of any family with a suitable young man?”

The moment the question left his mouth, Xiao Huan realized it was not quite appropriate.

“Just listen to this subject. Guangji worries over affairs of state every day. Naturally, you would not pay special attention to such things.”

Dongfang Wei looked at Xiao Huan, the corners of his mouth stiff.

She was going to marry?

He did not hear another word Xiao Huan said.

Standing guard outside, Sixi quietly moved a little farther away.

Oh, Lord Xiao! Please take a hint!

Xiao Huan finally noticed Dongfang Wei’s distraction.

He assumed Guangji was tired. Affairs of state were complicated and exhausting.

So he did not remain long. After chatting for another couple of sentences, he rose and took his leave.

Before departing, he even urged Dongfang Wei to rest well.

Dongfang Wei sat down and closed his eyes.

“Perhaps that’s for the best. For the best…”

* * *

“Xia Heng! Xia Heng! Hurry, hurry!”

Xia Heng had lost count of how many times someone had jolted her awake.

She would install two doors in the future! And stuff the space between them full of cotton!

Xia Heng swore bitterly that if anyone could still wake her after that, she would admit defeat.

She reluctantly wrapped herself in her quilt and opened the door, then shuddered as the cold wind hit her.

Zhao Die was already accustomed to this appearance.

She calmly said, “Chuqing says someone from the Xia Mansion is here.”

“Mm.”

Still half asleep, Xia Heng wondered what that had to do with her.

“Hm?”

The Xia Mansion? That seemed to be her family…

Zhao Die nodded in satisfaction when she saw Xia Heng’s eyes suddenly fly open.

“Yes. They’re here for you, so get up.”

With that, she carried the kettle in her hand straight into Xia Heng’s room and poured hot water into the washbasin.

She had never met anyone who slept even more than she did. Could a person like this truly marry someday?

Zhao Die wondered as she poured.

“Hey! You’re wearing your work clothes today!”

Xia Heng finally woke up completely. She stared in surprise at the General’s Mansion’s standard pale-green uniform Zhao Die wore.

Zhao Die was speechless at her peculiar focus.

The clothes the sisters had brought to the General’s Mansion were mostly light and thin. Two days ago, they had also sold several of the better-quality outfits to prepare supplies for their mother…

The clothes issued by the General’s Mansion might or might not be pretty, but they were warm!

And free!

Besides, the sisters had already given up on attaching themselves to the general. What was wrong with wearing “work clothes”?

Zhao Die rolled her eyes and ignored her.

Xia Heng had just finished dressing and was standing before the washbasin, taking a deep breath, when Zhao Die pressed her head downward.

“Wash your face already! The water will be cold in a moment!”

This woman dawdled too much! Had she not been quick before? Zhao Die had already mixed the water to the proper temperature. What was there to hesitate about?

The moment she pushed her down, she heard Xia Heng bubbling words underwater.

Zhao Die hastily withdrew her hand. Xia Heng lifted her head from the basin, muttering,

“I confess! I confess!”

Zhao Die: “……”

Xia Yun had already drunk three cups of tea in the General’s Mansion’s reception hall.

The weather was so cold, yet they had not even lit a charcoal brazier for him. What sort of hospitality was this?

“Since Lord Xia has honored my humble residence with his presence, I should naturally entertain you properly.”

Seated in the place of honor, Cang Chuli seemed to see through his thoughts. He held his teacup and spoke in a slow, quiet voice.

“But as Lord Xia knows, not long ago, someone switched the Zhenbei Army’s weapons and cut off our provisions. We nearly all died on the Northern Frontier.

“Everything in this mansion was used long ago to make up the deficit. We haven’t yet had time to touch what His Majesty bestowed.

“Therefore, I hope Lord Xia will forgive today’s inadequate hospitality!”

With that, he raised his teacup toward Xia Yun, then drained it in one swallow.

Xia Yun repeatedly said that he did not mind, but inwardly, he curled his lip.

Using one’s own money to cover public expenses—what kind of great fool would do such a thing?

Then he thought of the high pillows, soft beds, and warm pear-blossom gauze curtains in his own mansion and could not help feeling proud.

A hint of mockery appeared on his face.

So what if Cang Chuli was the General of the Northern Pacification? He lived worse than a mere director in the Ministry of Rites.

Outside the reception hall, Zhao Fu was waving at the servants.

“We really don’t need a charcoal brazier?”

“No, no. He isn’t much of a guest. Who knows how long he’ll stay?”

The young servant carrying the brazier scratched his head and left.

Mo Bai also stopped Chuqing from bringing in the refreshments in her hands.

“Why bring pastries? A pot of tea is enough.”

Chuqing’s mouth twitched.

“He is Ah Heng’s father, after all. We’re only giving him tea?”

“Don’t worry. If you don’t believe me, ask her yourself.”

Chuqing had no choice but to carry another pot of tea inside and refill Xia Yun’s cup.

Xia Yun could not drink any more.

He awkwardly asked Cang Chuli where the privy was, then hurried out with his servant.

That was when Xia Heng arrived.

“Lord Xia has gone to the privy.”

Even someone as thick-skinned as Xia Heng found that outrageous.

What? Had the latrine in his own house exploded? Why had he come to someone else’s home first thing in the morning just to use the privy?

Cang Chuli offered no explanation.

“He’s probably here to redeem you today. What do you think? Since you taught us everything you knew about mathematics, this general can allow you to return home.”

Xia Heng merely smiled.

“You think too highly of him.

“With his personality, he most likely intends to gain something without paying a thing.”

“And General, you’re mistaken about one thing.”

Xia Heng looked at Cang Chuli.

“That place is no longer my home.”