Su Rong sighed, looking at her father’s guilty demeanor, she knew that she would be busy for possibly the next six months, or even a year. She would have to squeeze out time for her wedding.
After the morning court session, the Nanchu King resolutely said to Su Rong, "I am going to review memorials in the Imperial Study Room, you and your staff should go and discuss matters in the Council Hall!"
After saying that, he quickly slipped away, afraid of being scolded by Su Rong.
Su Rong was speechless seeing her father slip away so quickly. She turned her head and caught Guixue, "Lord Ye, let’s go, to the Council Hall."
Ye Guixue held his forehead with his hand, he just knew it.
Su Rong then appointed a few court officials who had urgent matters to report today. When these officials saw that the princess started working promptly without delay, they were delighted and gladly followed her to the Council Hall.
Halfway there, Su Rong remembered Xie Yuan, and asked Ye Guixue, "Where is my Uncle Xie? Did Ye Xiang not invite him to court?"
Ye Guixue nodded, "My father visited Master Xie yesterday and suggested that if he could serve in court, another chancellor position could be set up for him. However, Master Xie did not agree, saying that he had been away from court life for many years and did not like the hurry of getting up early every day."
Su Rong found this reasonable, she herself wouldn’t want to get up early every day either.
Ye Guixue sighed, "Master Xie is a great talent, it’s a pity that he doesn’t serve in court."
"Even if he doesn’t serve in court, Uncle Xie can still help me. His arrival in Nanchu is for my sake." Su Rong turned her head and called, "Fen Ling."
"Sister." Fen Ling swooshed up and appeared in front of Su Rong.
Su Rong commanded him, "Could you please invite Uncle Xie to come to the Council Hall? Tell him that I can’t make it without him. Even if he doesn’t serve in court, he must serve as my strategist. Whenever I need him, he must come to the Council Hall to help me."
"Yes, I’ll go invite him right now." Fen Ling responded, and left immediately.
Ye Guixue smiled, feeling a bit relieved that Master Xie could be invited to help. His shoulders felt lighter, no longer weighted down with pressure.
Xie Yuan’s residence was elegant and imposing, very consistent with Xie Yuan’s preferred style.
After settling into the residence, he, like Su Rong, took a good day’s rest. Apart from Ye Xiang’s visit, which took up more than an hour persuading him to serve in court, he spent the rest of the time doing nothing, greatly enjoying this tranquility.
The happenings of today’s morning court session and the three royal decrees were soon spread throughout the royal capital after the court was dismissed. The Xie Residence also received the news. Xie Yuan sat in silence for a long while; in the end, he let out a sigh, not knowing whether he or Chu Rong was more unfortunate.
If it were him, he had known and loved Zhenmin for a year or two. Later on, due to helplessness, Zhenmin accepted Chu Rong, severing her relationship with him. Afterwards, she fell in love with Chu Rong, which was hard for him to accept at the time, and he suffered for a full year or two. But later, when she faked her death to flee Dawei, the only person she could trust was him. He chose Jiangning County for her, and somewhat peacefully spent seven more years with her there. It could be said that he had accepted everything, and after sending her off, he had no regrets in this life.
As for Chu Rong, he only had Zhenmin for about three months, then followed with ceaseless sorrow and longing, torturing himself and living in decay for more than a decade. But he had a daughter who shared his blood, a daughter borne to him by Zhenmin. However, those three months had ensnared him for life, and not even the queen, who betrayed the Nangong family for his sake, could soften him. Now there was the decree to posthumously grant titles, saying something about "sharing life’s affection, continuing the bond of past lives, regardless of life or death, the heavens and the earth would stand eternal." He was still hoping for the next life.
Fen Ling soon arrived at the Xie Residence, and after meeting Xie Yuan, he relayed Su Rong’s message.
Xie Yuan put down his bookroll and seemed helpless, "This is only the first day after the court."
The implication was clear, he had just rested for one day in this royal capital, and she was already busy and thinking about him.
Fen Ling, having eavesdropped outside the Jinluan Hall during today’s morning court, also seemed helpless, "Master, please have some sympathy for our young mistress! His Majesty is really unreliable, leaving a mountain of tasks for her."
Xie Yuan stood up, sighed, and said, "Okay, let’s go."
Xie Yuan accompanied Fen Ling to the Council Hall. Inside, the crowd had been discussing for quite some time, with Ye Xiang also present. Seeing Xie Yuan, Ye Xiang hurriedly stepped forward to greet him, "Ah, Master Xie is here, that’s really great."
Xie Yuan bowed to Ye Xiang, "Ye Xiang."
Ye Xiang was overjoyed, thinking that it was Su Rong who had invited Xie Yuan. Not serving in court was fine, as long as he was willing to help, "Master Xie, please come in."
Xie Yuan nodded and entered the Council Hall.
Su Rong turned her head, saw Xie Yuan, and smiled, "Uncle Xie, there are so many things in court. Zhou Gu has gone to the Ministry of Rites to prepare for our wedding, so I could only ask you for help. Please bear with me a little more. Once court affairs stabilize and everything is in order, I promise not to disturb you and allow you to rest for a year and a half."
No one understood more clearly than her that these years, Uncle Xie had not been able to spare much leisure time because of her.
Xie Yuan glanced at her and nodded, "Alright."
Thus, with the addition of Xie Yuan, the discussions in the Council Hall resonated with increased vitality. On many issues, his remarks were sharp and insightful, hitting the nail on the head. The court officials thought that it was no wonder that Xie Yuan, who had long held a reputation for tutoring the princess, was so celebrated. Even Ye Xiang felt inwardly moved, the title of "great talent" was not an empty phrase.
What a pity it would be that he would not serve in court and would only act as the princess’s strategist. Otherwise, the burden on him would be lighter.
At noon, the Nanchu King came to the Council Hall to have lunch with Su Rong. When he arrived, he saw all the people engrossed in heated discussion around his daughter. Probably many issues were urgent and difficult to handle, his daughter was continuously rubbing her temple, Xie Yuan was also frowning from time to time, and he guiltily thought about turning around and leaving.
Fen Ling was hiding to the side, eating pastries and drinking tea, listening to the discussions in the Council Hall. As he was idle, he was the first to notice the Nanchu King and immediately stood up, "His Majesty is here."
Upon hearing these words, the Hall quieted immediately, the discussion halted, and they all looked towards the entrance.
The Nanchu King glared at Fen Ling; he could not leave now that he had been spotted, and he had to walk into the Council Hall with a smile, "My ministers have worked hard, my sweet daughter has worked hard, Brother Xie has worked hard."
Su Rong was not pleased, "Why are you glaring at Fen Ling? If he hadn’t noticed you, would you have come and then left? Is it because you left such a big mess for me and you’re too embarrassed to see me?"
The Nanchu King felt guilty and ashamed, and quickly deflected blame, "Ah, this needs to be blamed on Ye Xiang, he was the one who said matters at the frontline were urgent and that other issues could be delayed." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Ye Xiang’s face immediately darkened. It is true that he said this, but at that time there was no choice. Nanchu was in civil strife, and Dawei was invading aggressively. Of course, everything had to prioritize the frontline. If the princess could not be protected and Dawei succeeded, the kingdom would be over, not to mention governing it. Not only did he say this, but also His Majesty was also focused on the frontline all day and night.
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