Chapter 111 Family Banquet "The old couch is less than three feet long; if it's not replaced, Madam..."

The warm spring sun shone through the half-open window, casting tranquil dappled light on the bluestone bricks of the Pei residence's inner chambers. The court had been remarkably peaceful lately; the Emperor had recently dealt swiftly with a number of people, including a thorough purge of the Ministry of Personnel from top to bottom. Officials were now on edge, behaving with impunity. Even the number of criminals had decreased. Pei Xu benefited from this, enjoying several days of rest at home.

The first to find this "leisurely" life unbearable was Meng Lingyao.

She had to admit that Pei Shaoqing was indeed exceptionally handsome, a feast for the eyes. But even the most delicious delicacies would become unbearable if "enjoyed" for nine consecutive days and nights without distinction.

According to the laws of this dynasty, officials are entitled to nine days of leave for important events such as marriage. Today is the ninth day.

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, slanting into the room and falling on Meng Lingyao's face. She shifted uneasily, her brows furrowing slightly. A large, well-defined hand gently covered her eyelids, blocking the light from disturbing her peaceful sleep.

Meng Lingyao finally woke up. She slowly sat up, her body aching, the thin blanket slipping from her shoulders to reveal red marks scattered across her fair skin. The marks varied in depth and age, some new, some old, appearing particularly ambiguous in the morning light. Having once again indulged in reckless behavior until late morning, she didn't know whether to scold Pei Xu for his lack of self-control or regret her own lack of self-control.

Old Master Pei was unconcerned with formalities and never required his juniors to pay their respects to him morning and evening. He always enjoyed himself, which undoubtedly gave Pei Xu a great opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

She held her forehead, deeply feeling that she could no longer indulge in such behavior.

After finishing her belated lunch, Meng Lingyao feigned thoughtfulness and suggested, "Shaoqing, you should be going to the government office tomorrow, right? Why don't you... go back to Jingguan Courtyard tonight to rest, so you can get some more rest tomorrow morning?"

Pei Xu raised his eyes, his expression indifferent: "I will not go to the government office tomorrow."

"Why? Haven't you already taken nine days off?" she said righteously, raising her voice several decibels. "As the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, in charge of laws and decrees, how can you not set an example and strictly abide by the law?"

“I have never asked for leave in previous years, but Lord Minister has granted me a few extra days off this time,” Pei Xu said calmly.

"..."

Meng Lingyao was speechless for a moment, cursing the old man in her heart several times. She pursed her lips, but then heard Pei Xu say again, "However, there are indeed some trivial matters at Jingguan Courtyard that need to be dealt with back at the time."

Meng Lingyao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

In the afternoon, Pei Xu indeed returned to Jingguan Courtyard. Meng Lingyao, who rarely had half a day of peace and quiet, strolled around the garden, looked at the flowers and plants, and fed the koi, thoroughly enjoying herself.

As dinner time approached, the kitchen served the angelica and black chicken soup that she had specially ordered to be stewed the day before. The soup was clear and bright, with a rich aroma, and it was just the right amount for two people. Meng Lingyao looked at the extra bowl and hesitated for a moment, just as Dan Yue returned to retrieve something.

"Dan Yue, take this soup back to Jing Guan Courtyard and let your master drink it while it's hot," Meng Lingyao instructed.

Dan Yue looked troubled. “Madam, when the Lord is handling important matters, he never allows himself to be disturbed, nor does he eat. If I were to deliver it, I fear I would be displeasing you.” He quietly raised his eyes and lowered his voice. “How about… Madam goes in person? If you go, the Lord will certainly not object.”

Meng Lingyao raised an eyebrow, knowing that this sly fellow was doing it on purpose, but looking at the carefully stewed soup, she couldn't bear to waste it, so she nodded in agreement, took the food, and went to Jingguan Courtyard.

Jingguan Temple was also newly decorated, with red lanterns hanging in front of the gate, red "double happiness" characters pasted on the window frames, and even the stone lions in the courtyard tied with red ribbons. It was as if a quiet Taoist temple had been forcibly pulled back into the secular world, filled with a festive atmosphere.

Meng Lingyao did not wait long before Pei Xu arrived.

"Are you done with your work?" Meng Lingyao stood up to greet her.

Pei Xu didn't answer, but walked closer and gently smoothed her hair, his gaze softening. "Why did you have to come all the way here?"

That sounds incredibly hypocritical.

“The soup is ready, we can’t let it go to waste,” Meng Lingyao said sarcastically. “And I’ve heard that you often forget to eat and sleep when you’re discussing matters. I don’t want to become a widow at such a young age.”

Pei Xu nodded, his expression unchanged, "Thank you for your concern, Madam."

The two sat down and had dinner together. The cook's skills were excellent, and Meng Lingyao drank more than half a cup of wine. After the meal, Pei Xu said, "It seems you haven't had a good look at Jingguan Courtyard since it was renovated. Why don't I show you around to help you digest?"

Meng Lingyao agreed, and the two took a walk in the courtyard. As night deepened, the sky was filled with stars and the moon. The courtyard was brightly lit, and red lanterns swayed gently in the night breeze, casting flickering shadows. They walked along the pebbled path to the swing at the end.

Meng Lingyao sat on the swing, and Pei Xu gently pushed her from the side. The moon was high in the sky, and a gentle night breeze carried the faint fragrance of flowers. She closed her eyes, enjoying the tranquility, and felt exceptionally relaxed.

“It’s getting late,” Pei Xu suddenly said. “Why don’t we stay at Jingguan Courtyard for the night?”

Meng Lingyao gave a soft snort, opened her eyes to look at him, and said, "The true intentions are revealed."

From the moment she stepped into this courtyard, she had already prepared herself; she probably wouldn't be able to leave.

The servants of Jingguan Temple quickly brought her clean clothes and other necessities, all of which were exactly the same as what she usually used.

This shows that it was premeditated.

The bedroom was much smaller than that of the Pei residence. Upon entering, one was greeted by a large, exquisitely carved huanghuali wood bed covered with soft silk bedding, which looked extremely comfortable. This bed was completely out of place in this simple bedroom, like a luxurious wedding bed being forcibly crammed into a Taoist temple meant for a life of quiet contemplation.

Meng Lingyao couldn't help but laugh, "Where did this bed come from?"

"Newly built."

Pei Xu, his long hair loose, stepped out of the bathhouse, still carrying a faint scent of soap. Meng Lingyao reached out and gently tugged at his hair. "You fake Taoist priest, what are you thinking?"

Pei Xu pulled her into his arms and whispered in her ear, "The old bed is less than three feet long. If we don't replace it, when Madam comes to bring soup again, she'll have to sleep on me."

Meng Lingyao detected a hint of regret in his tone and glared at him irritably.

The next day, Meng Lingyao woke up from her bed and began a new round of self-reflection.

He spent several days idly in the Jingguan Courtyard until an invitation arrived from the palace. The Emperor's birthday was approaching, and on the actual day, he would hold a banquet to invite all his officials. Before that, the Emperor had invited his relatives and friends for a family banquet in the palace.

Whether the Emperor's statement that Pei Xu was no different from his sons and nephews was sincere or not, the invitation was eventually delivered to Pei Xu.

Zhao Ruxuan sat in front of her dressing table, drawing her eyebrows. It wasn't appropriate to dress too extravagantly for today's family banquet, so she opted for a relatively simple look. Her eyebrows seemed a bit too high at the ends, so she carefully adjusted the arch. She was also dressed in a proper, light blue palace gown embroidered with simple cloud patterns; nothing about her attire was out of place. Even looking in the mirror, she found it rather uninteresting.

She wasn't like this before. When she was still unmarried, she would always dress up for such occasions, wearing whatever clothes would attract attention and whatever jewelry would be the most exquisite. But now...

Lost in thought for a moment, Zhao Ruxuan was interrupted when her personal maid quietly approached. She saw Zhao Ruxuan's hesitant expression in the mirror, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated to speak.

He spoke up first, "Just say what you have to say. In the current situation, is there anything I can't hear?"

The maidservant pursed her lips, leaned close to her side, and whispered, "I accidentally discovered a few days ago that His Highness the Third Prince sent someone to purchase rouge and face powder from Juxiang Tower. I originally thought it was for you, Miss, but I never expected..."

Ever since she learned of this, she had been secretly observing, originally wanting to see which vixen had seduced the Third Prince. She was just a weak and frail maid, and the Third Prince's men hadn't taken her seriously, but unexpectedly, they had discovered something amiss.

Zhao Ruxuan's hand trembled, and the indigo dye brushed across her face, leaving a dark mark like a scabbed wound. She quickly wiped it with a handkerchief, her voice dry, "What did you find?"

The maid bit her lower lip. "I discovered that those things were actually sent to the palace."

Zhao Ruxuan stopped what she was doing, staring blankly at her reflection in the mirror. After a long while, she let out a cold laugh, "The palace? He really has... a lot of nerve."

"Miss, what are you wearing today?" Songlan stood beside a row of clothes.

After a moment's thought, Meng Lingyao chose a pomegranate red palace dress, the hem of which was embroidered with large, blooming flowers in gold thread, making it luxurious and eye-catching.

The emperor was not young anymore, and from what she knew, people of that age loved seeing younger generations dressed in bright colors, especially on such a joyous occasion as his birthday. Furthermore, the princess liked vibrant colors, and being siblings from the same mother, their tastes were likely somewhat similar.

The steward had already prepared a birthday gift: a finely crafted white jade statue of the God of Longevity, symbolizing good fortune and of moderate value—showing sincerity without being too ostentatious. After all, in terms of closeness, the Emperor had his princes and princesses to dote on him; it wasn't Pei Xu's place as a nephew with whom he had only a distant connection to fulfill his filial duties. A decent gift was sufficient.

The palace had already been newly decorated, with lanterns and colorful decorations everywhere. Palace servants moved about, their steps hurried yet orderly. The family banquet was held in Chengrui Hall next to the Imperial Garden, where melodious music filled the air.

Meng Lingyao and Pei Xu entered hand in hand, immediately attracting much attention. Pei Xu's special status and Meng Lingyao's new bride made them the focus of everyone's attention.

On the women's side, the person in charge was Zheng Yu, the Second Prince's wife. Upon seeing the two, she immediately greeted them with a smile.

"Young Master Pei, Madam Pei, you've finally arrived." Zheng Yu's voice was gentle. She was dressed in a lotus-colored palace dress, with an elegant demeanor that contrasted sharply with Meng Lingyao's radiant beauty. "Madam Pei, you look absolutely stunning today. This pomegranate red dress suits you perfectly."

The other party greeted her with a smile, and Meng Lingyao naturally wouldn't be ungrateful, replying politely, "Second Prince's Consort is too kind. You are truly elegant and noble, with extraordinary bearing, and you have managed today's banquet so well, which is truly admirable."

She knew Zheng Yu; she was a renowned talented woman in the capital, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. When she married the Second Prince, many in the capital even felt sorry for her, thinking that although the Second Prince was brave, he was only good at literature. It was a waste for such a talented woman to marry him. However, Meng Lingyao always felt that a smart woman like her should live a good life no matter who she married.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Meng Lingyao and Pei Xu were led to their respective seats. Shortly after they sat down, Zhao Ruxuan arrived.

Zheng Yu also stepped forward to greet her. Seeing that she looked unwell, he took the initiative to explain, "Third sister-in-law, please take a seat. Mother has been busy with many matters related to the Empress Dowager's birthday celebrations recently, and has entrusted me with managing today's family banquet. If there is any inadequacy in our hospitality, I hope you will forgive me."

Zhao Ruxuan said "Thank you for your hard work" in a light tone, then went straight to her seat without saying anything more.

After waiting for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Emperor arrived, followed by his two sons. The Second Prince seemed to be in relatively good spirits, leaning on a cane and walking slowly but steadily. The Third Prince made a gesture to help him up, and the Second Prince didn't stand on ceremony, leaning directly against him. He was a true martial artist, with a muscular build and considerable weight. The Third Prince swayed slightly, but gritted his teeth and managed to keep his balance.

Somewhat surprisingly, Consort Jing also came. She was quite far along in her pregnancy, her belly was high and protruding, but her limbs were still slender, and she looked like a beautiful vase.

The emperor frowned. "Why is my beloved concubine out today?"