Eunuch Feng was a regular at the Li family's home, and he was especially familiar with Jiayin. So after exchanging a few pleasantries, everyone invited him to sit down and served him a cup of hot tea.
After taking a couple of sips, Eunuch Feng urged, "My lord, the Emperor requests your immediate presence at the palace. I happened to be free, so I took on this task and made this trip."
Everyone was puzzled, wondering what urgent matter the Emperor had.
The Marquis got up to change his clothes. After a day outside, his robes were dusty and not suitable for entering the palace.
Li Lao Er then asked, "Does Your Excellency know what the Emperor wants to do? It's almost dark, and he wants the Marquis to come to the palace?"
Eunuch Feng shook his head, he really didn't know either, but he still comforted everyone, "This humble servant really doesn't know what His Majesty has instructed the Marquis on, but His Majesty is in a good mood today, and he even took a walk in the Imperial Garden with the Third Princess this afternoon."
"The arrival of envoys from eight nations to pay tribute to the capital is an honor that Tianwu has not experienced in many years. The Emperor is in high spirits, but perhaps there are some details to discuss."
The others didn't dare to ask any more questions, so they chatted for a while.
Soon, the Marquis finished getting ready, and Jiayin personally packed a box of pastries for Eunuch Feng, making Eunuch Feng smile and leave with the Marquis.
By this time, the sun had already set behind the western mountains, casting a light orange-red hue over the world, which looked quite beautiful in the courtyard.
Disliking the stuffiness inside, the people moved to the eaves to chat.
Jiayin, unable to stay still, found a ball and started a game with her nephew, maids, and servants.
Two rectangular wicker baskets were placed on either side of the yard to serve as goalposts.
Everyone split into two groups, each trying their best to get the ball into the other's basket.
Wan'er was in charge of the Earl's mansion. Although the rules were stricter than those in Suijintan, the servants were never deprived of food, drink, or clothing, and they were rarely punished. As a result, the servants were more lively and daring than those in other households.
Especially these young servants and maids around ten years old, who had just been bought not long ago, were taught manners and skills by the matrons, but were not actually assigned any work.
Now that their master, Jiayin, was personally leading them in playing, they felt even more at ease.
So, the courtyard, with its four sides, soon erupted into chaos because of a small ball.
The children's laughter and screams, and their occasional cheers for narrow victories, made all the "spectators" watching under the eaves laugh along.
Aibei nestled close to Jiaxi, her eyes filled with wonder and, more than anything, joy.
She whispered to her husband, "Our home is so nice, our home is so lively."
Jiaxi took her hand, his face full of pride and smugness, and replied, "Wherever my sister is, it's lively. When I have the chance, I'll take you back to Suijintan and show you that there are even more lively places."
The Li brothers sat together and couldn't help but sigh, "It's so good to have kids at home. This lively atmosphere is what life should be like."
"Yes, we'll bring Mother and the others back in the autumn." Li Laosan sighed, his heart filled with longing for his mother, whom he hadn't seen for half a year.
Li Laosi advised, "According to the court's arrangements, we should set off in half a month. Once we return victorious and the situation stabilizes, we will have nothing to fear."
Under a large tree in the far corner of the courtyard, Mu Xu chewed on a twig, his eyes following the leaping and laughing girl, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile.
Occasionally, birds would fly over the yard and land curiously on the treetops, wanting to see what was going on, only to be shot away by a branch and startled away immediately.
The birds protested angrily, chirping incessantly, but ultimately dared not linger.
Mu Xu looked back at the courtyard, a smile returning to his eyes.
No one can disturb him from enjoying this earthly joy!
Every time he looked at it like this, he felt that being alive wasn't so bad...
As night fell completely, Jiayin and the children, big and small, were exhausted, their faces ached from laughing, and their voices were hoarse from shouting.
And so, the match finally came to an end.
Whether they won or lost, the servants and maids received snacks as a reward, which made them beam with joy and wish that their master would take them to compete every day.
Wan'er was worried that the children would catch a cold, so she quickly took them downstairs to bathe and change their clothes.
Chicken soup with wontons was prepared in the kitchen as a late-night snack for the masters.
After all, we ate dinner early and played for so long, so we've digested most of it.
After everyone ate a bowl, they dispersed to rest.
Jiayin was preoccupied with her adoptive father's trip to the palace. With her hair still half-dry, she put on a cloak and went out to find Mu Xu.
Since Mu Xu didn't need secret guards at home, he lived in a side room with Zheng Yi and a few others.
They were quite familiar with each other, having worked together on business and shared joys and sorrows, and they always had endless things to talk about.
When Jiayin came looking for them, Zheng Yi and the others were quite surprised, but when it came to Mu Xu, none of them knew where he had gone.
Jiayin frowned, but didn't ask any more questions.
Actually, she didn't know that Mu Xu was in the study of the Marquis's residence at that moment.
The Marquis had just come out of the palace when Mu Xu tossed him a hot towel and presented it to him with both hands.
The Marquis wiped his face, looked up and saw him smiling, and asked, "Why did you chase me here? Is something the matter?"
Mu Xu replied, "It's nothing serious. I was just worried that the princess might be concerned about your trip to the palace, so I came to inquire and then went back to let her know. That way, the princess can rest assured."
The Marquis looked him up and down for a long time with his deep eyes, then smiled softly.
"You were reluctant back then, but now you're doing it so diligently."
Mu Xu blushed slightly and coughed twice in response, "I am the princess's bodyguard. It's only right that I help my master in times of need!"
The Marquis did not dwell on the topic any further and said, "The Emperor summoned me to the palace to discuss the upcoming northern expedition. The expedition, originally scheduled for half a month later, has been moved to six days later."
Mu Xu frowned and asked, "An army cannot move until its supplies are ready. Given the incompetence of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue, this sudden early departure is likely to cause delays."
The Marquis wasn't worried, replying, "The Emperor will issue an imperial edict and send people to supervise, so even if it's a little slow, it won't be much slower. Besides, once we get to Jiangbei, we can plunder the barbarians' supplies and use war to sustain war."
Mu Xu curled his lip in disdain; he had absolutely no good impression of the imperial court.
If he hadn't met the Marquis and been helped to settle his worries, he probably would have risked his entire life to bring down the Tianwu court.
The Marquis discerned something amiss from his expression, and after a moment's thought, advised, "The sudden fall of the country and the emergency relocation of the capital certainly had many shortcomings. But the Emperor and the court have done their best to care for the people. Don't harbor too much resentment in your heart."
"Now that you have no worries, just focus on living a good life and not letting down your deceased loved ones."
Mu Xu lowered his eyes, changed the subject, and asked, "My lord, can I go on the expedition with you? I haven't killed enough barbarians yet!"
The Marquis couldn't help but laugh, and without thinking, asked, "Are you willing to leave Xindu?"
Mu Xu paused for a moment, then quickly changed his tune, "I was just saying it casually because I was reluctant to part with it."
The Marquis chuckled and waved him away, saying, "Go back. You should give me an answer when I return from my campaign. Although the agreed time hasn't arrived yet, if you have no intention of leaving, you should get away as soon as possible."
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