Huangxiu

Chapter 119 Entering the Mansion
The sun had just passed its zenith when the Duke of Anguo's Mansion, west of Yujing City, became bustling with activity.

The servants cleaned and busied themselves, making the whole house of Duke Anguo spotless, clean and tidy, just like New Year's Day.

This is the first time that the distinguished guest from Dongchuang has come to visit, and we must show the best side of the Duke’s Mansion.

What's more, this distinguished guest is a prince and a member of a royal family.

Everything was ready and everyone was looking forward to it.

Duke Anguo and Xiao Ruoyu sat in the front hall, drinking tea and waiting.

Xiao Ruoyu felt as if there were needles under his butt, and he kept twisting and fidgeting.

Duke Anguo was reading a book with a serene and peaceful expression.

"Dad, there's no need to make such a fuss, right?"

"We must give the emperor face. Although he is your brother-in-law, he also represents the emperor's face."

"...Yes." Xiao Ruoyu had nothing to say.

Duke Anguo had always taught him to always be respectful to the royal family and never become arrogant just because of his hereditary succession and the red-lettered iron certificate.

Instead, we should be more humble, be grateful, and never take it for granted.

Otherwise, it would be the beginning of the Xiao family's decline, and they would be unfilial descendants and sinners of the Xiao family's descendants, and they would not be able to enter the temple after death.

Duke Anguo was reading a book and said slowly, "Is your elder sister ready as well?"

"My eldest sister didn't prepare much. She said that since we're already engaged, there's no need to be so polite. It would only make us lose intimacy."

"Well, that's fine." Duke Anguo nodded.

Xiao Ruoyu was helpless.

Whatever I say is wrong and I get scolded, but whatever my elder sister says is right.

At this moment, the palace steward came in through the curtain and said softly, "Master, the son-in-law is on the street."

"Open the middle door."

"Yes." The fat butler responded, turned around and ran out, shouting from a distance: "Open the middle door, open the middle door!"

There was excitement and enthusiasm in his voice.

The girl from the Duke's Mansion married into Prince Qing's Mansion and became the Crown Prince's Consort. The declining Duke An's Mansion was different from then on and became more confident.

With the support of the royal family, he can go out with his head held high.

"Let's go." Duke Anguo looked at Xiao Ruoyu and walked out with big strides.

Xiao Ruoyu stood up and followed, walking out quickly.

As the father and son left the front hall, the guards and personal bodyguards gathered together, forming a large group of people, surrounding them, turning around the screen wall and coming to the outside of the gate.

A moment later, at the end of the long street, a group of guards slowly came in a sandalwood and eight-treasure purple dragon carriage. The six horses were strong and handsome, all of them were precious horses.

They walked in neat steps with leisurely expressions, slowly coming to the gate of the Anguo Mansion and stopping right between two mottled stone lions.

Behind the carriage was a group of servants carrying eight large boxes, painted bright red, and the people carrying the boxes walked with heavy steps.

Inside were some silks, satins, jewelry, cakes, tea utensils and the like, selected from the palace storehouse.

The cultivation resources in Prince Qing's Mansion are scarce and almost non-existent, but these worldly things are not lacking, and the fiefdom pays a lot of tribute every year.

Zou Fang held a white jade whisk in his hand and opened the carriage door.

Chu Zhiyuan, wearing a mink coat and a mink hat, got off the carriage, slowly stood up, his handsome face looked like a jade crown in the sun.

The guards around him were all dressed in brocade robes, which made him look even more elegant and noble.

Chu Zhiyuan took a few steps forward, came to the front of Duke Anguo, smiled and bowed. "Greetings, father-in-law."

Although they haven't gotten married yet, they are already engaged. For Prince Qing's Mansion and Duke Anguo's Mansion, engagement is tantamount to marriage and will not be changed.

He can call him Duke or father-in-law.

The court and Dazhen are now in a stalemate because of the dispute over who Princess Dazhen should marry, and the Anguo Mansion must be worried.

He just called his father-in-law father to reassure him.

When Anguogong Xiao Youping heard this address, he immediately felt relieved and smiled, "Your Highness, there is no need to be polite. Please come in."

"Yes," Chu Zhiyuan looked at Xiao Ruoyu, "Ruoyu's cultivation has improved even more."

"I've met the prince."

Xiao Ruoyu was a little shy and couldn't open his mouth to call him brother-in-law directly.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and exchanged a few words with Duke Anguo, then followed him inside. Someone behind him carried in eight large boxes of gifts.

Zou Fang followed Chu Zhiyuan like his shadow.

Duke Anguo knew the royal family's rules, and this kind of personal eunuch was always by his side.

-

In the front hall, maids served tea.

Chu Zhiyuan took a sip, put down the teacup, and apologized first. He should have come to visit earlier, and it was really rude to wait until now.

Duke Anguo waved his hand, knowing that he was busy and needed to concentrate on his cultivation. These people were his family, so there was no need to go through so many formalities.

Duke Anguo quickly started talking about the Ministry of Rites.

"The Ninth Princess will be arriving in the next few days, and the Ministry of Rites will send someone to greet her."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

"Sir, do you want to go and greet the guests this time?"

"Forget about my son-in-law. It's not my turn to get involved in the affairs of the Mongolian envoys."

"The Ninth Princess Li Hongzhao is extremely gifted and intelligent. She is definitely not something that ordinary people can deal with. If you can avoid seeing her, then don't do that."

"Is this someone coming with bad intentions?"

"It's probably because of our alliance with Dazhen. We originally wanted to send Dazhen away first, but we didn't expect that we couldn't reach an agreement on the marriage."

"In your opinion, father-in-law, will the court give in in order to make Dazhen leave before the Mongol delegation arrives?"

“…It’s possible.”

"I will never marry Princess Dazhen."

"Alas..., I'm afraid it won't be up to you, my Lord." Chu Zhiyuan frowned: "Does my father-in-law have any ideas?"

"It all depends on the emperor."

"My grandfather once promised not to let me marry Princess Dazhen, but now it seems that may not be true."

"The Emperor sometimes has no choice but to compromise."

"…If the court really compromises, I will resolutely not follow."

"What if the emperor issues an order?"

"If you disobey the imperial order, your grandfather will only grant you another thirty years of fiefdom at most."

"We can't do this... If the situation is unbearable, then we should have two concubines."

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head solemnly.

Xiao Ruoyu snorted secretly, thinking that Chu Zhiyuan was just being hypocritical.

Which man doesn't want to have many wives and concubines? What's more, Princess Dazhen is definitely a rare beauty in the world.

Chu Zhiyuan really didn't want to marry Princess Dazhen.

If you marry her, there will be endless troubles and unrest in the harem. How can you concentrate on practicing?
Duke Anguo Xiao Youping stroked his beard and pondered, his eyes fixed on Chu Zhiyuan. He could see that Chu Zhiyuan was determined and was not trying to please him.

He thought for a while and said, "If it really doesn't work out, then we can get married as soon as possible. If we get married before they come up with a plan, Dazhen will give up."

Chu Zhiyuan was startled, then said embarrassedly: "If you say that, it would be too unfair to Ruoling."

"It doesn't matter if it's a little hasty," Xiao Youping said, "The key is whether the two of you can live happily together. Other things are not important."

"Father!" Xiao Ruoyu couldn't help it.

When he heard about the Ninth Princess's affairs, he couldn't concentrate. He felt that the affairs of the court were too far away from him and he didn't take them to heart.

But when he heard about marrying Princess Dazhen, he immediately became excited.

After hearing the advice from his father Xiao Youping, he couldn't sit still anymore.

My eldest sister is the legitimate daughter of the Duke's Mansion, a noble lady among noble ladies. Her engagement was so hasty and as simple as that of ordinary people, which was already extremely shabby.

If we get married in such a hurry now, what will outsiders think?
They must have felt that the Duke of Anguo's Mansion was so eager to marry their daughter to the Prince of Qing's Mansion, which was too perfunctory and unreserved.

This will invisibly denigrate my eldest sister and the Duke's Mansion.

They can say anything unpleasant, and it is inevitable that they will say that your lady is not expensive, making it seem like she is a money-losing commodity.

Chu Zhiyuan pondered and said slowly: "There is no problem with my son-in-law."

Xiao Youping stroked his beard and smiled, "Okay!... I will keep an eye on the court and see the results of the negotiations. With the arrival of Li Hongzhao, there may be changes."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.

Xiao Youping felt relieved after figuring out Chu Zhiyuan's thoughts. He stopped talking and changed the subject: "You and Young Master Kangguo's affair has caused a lot of noise."

"Duke Kangguo..." Chu Zhiyuan smiled, picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"Duke Kangguo originally had three legitimate sons, but the eldest and second sons are both gone, and now only this one is left."

"No wonder he is so doted on."

Xiao Youping said slowly: "Duke Kang was extremely strict and even harsh to the eldest and second sons, pushing them very hard, causing them to take risks. The eldest son died at the hands of Dameng's Treading Cloud Cavalry, and the second son died at the hands of Dazhen's Lingshuang Cavalry."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned immediately.

This is indeed tragic.

"He put almost all his energy into the eldest son. After the eldest son died, he turned to the second son, but the second son also died. When it came to the third son, Song Tianhai, he changed his previous strictness... In fact, he also lost his ambition. He just hoped that the third son could live in peace and do nothing. It doesn't matter if he has to support the Duke's Mansion, as long as the incense is not cut off."

“It’s sad, lamentable, and a pity.”

"So he dotes on Song Tianhai and protects him very much."

"I understand." Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly: "I will know my limits."

He understood what Xiao Youping meant, and told him not to retaliate too harshly against Song Tianhai, otherwise the situation would get out of control.

It depends on whether Duke Kangguo knows what's good for him.

Although it is respectable that his two sons died in battle, we cannot tolerate his contempt and bullying of Prince Qing's Mansion because of this.

"In fact, Ling'er has martial arts skills."

"Oh--?"

"The first generation ancestor once obtained a miraculous skill, which was kept in the mansion but no one was able to master it. However, Ling'er succeeded in mastering it."

"Ruo Ling is actually a martial arts genius?"

“Haha…” Xiao Youping laughed, “She is indeed a genius, but for a girl, especially a girl from a family like ours, there is no need to fight and kill. The right path is to support your husband and raise your children.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I'm afraid Ruo Ling and father-in-law have different ideas, right?"

How could a martial arts genius be content to stay at home and take care of her husband and children?
"I can only let her down. Without her to help me, the Duke's Mansion would have been in a mess."

Chu Zhiyuan sighed: "He is good at both literature and martial arts."

Xiao Youping stroked his beard and smiled, "She is in the back garden... Ruoyu, take your brother-in-law over to have a look."

"Yes."

Xiao Ruoyu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly agreed, then stood up and hurriedly left the front hall.

Sitting here and listening to them talk, it's so boring, so old-fashioned.

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists and saluted Xiao Youping, then walked to the back with Xiao Ruoyu.

The two of them walked through several courtyards and came to the back garden which was brand new everywhere. They saw Xiao Ruoling, wearing colorful clothes, in the pavilion on the rockery.

The sunlight shone obliquely through the pavilion, onto Xiao Ruoling, giving her a layer of rosy glow.

It looks like a white jade statue illuminated by the sunset glow, so beautiful as a dream.

Chu Zhiyuan sighed inwardly.

The most beautiful woman in Yujing is indeed worthy of her title.

Having such a beauty in your arms is a wonderful thing.

No wonder Song Tianhai was so sad and crazy.

(End of this chapter)