Chapter 109: Dining Trouble
Zhao's Teahouse
Xie Zhan and Zhao Yutan, the engaged couple, sat facing each other, with two cups of hot tea placed between them, the aroma wafting up, but neither of them was paying attention to it.
"If you have something to say, just tell me." Xie Zhan faced his fiancée calmly.
Xie Zhan felt the veins on his forehead throbbing as he was tricked by his future father-in-law just because his fiancée wanted to see him.
His indifference made Zhao Yutan very sad, "Zhan Lang, don't you like me looking for you at this time?"
In reality, she had come to him this time to discuss something very important, and the sooner she spoke, the better it would be for him and their families. She had arranged to meet him out of consideration for him. Otherwise, with their wedding only a few days away, she could have waited until afterward to discuss it.
"No, you're overthinking it." Xie Zhan had a headache, but he had to comfort her. He did think so. There were things that couldn't be said after the wedding. But since he was already here, why bother saying such hurtful words? It would be detrimental to their relationship.
"I came to you this time because I actually wanted to tell you—" Zhao Yutan bit his lip and said, "The emperor…"
"Um?"
"The emperor's life span is probably not long."
Xie Zhan looked at her in surprise. Seeing her nervousness, he changed his original question of "How did you know?" to "Is the news really true?"
"I promise it's true." Zhao Yutan breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't ask any further questions, otherwise she really didn't know how to answer him. She couldn't tell him that it was a dream, right?
Yes, she had another useful dream for the future. Emperor Kang Cheng was nearing the end of his life, which was the content of her recent dream.
Zhao Yutan decided to tell Xie Zhan the news for two reasons: first, she knew the importance of foresight, as she was about to marry into the Xie family and of course hoped that her husband Xie Zhan could use this news to make good plans and gain benefits for both the Xie and Zhao families; second, she did not want to be outdone by Lu Songli.
During this period, Lu Songli's performance was too outstanding. Although Zhao Yutan did not approve of Lu Songli's performance during this period, he only felt that she had done all kinds of bad things.
But Zhao Yutan knew from her father that the Xie clan had some complaints about her. They felt that because of her, the Xie clan had lost the young patriarch's wife, Lü Songli. Zhao Yutan felt very wronged. She had taken the initiative to create the opportunity, but if the Xie family had not acquiesced to the development of the situation, how could this result have happened?
But it doesn't matter. No matter how outstanding Lv Songli is, he will still be exiled! It will be soon. In a month or so, Lv Songli will be finished with the Qin family!
Yes, Zhao Yutan already knew that Lu Songli was the one who bribed Yan Zi and Tao Zi.
Everything Lu Songli did to her brother Silang has left him resentful and bitter, and he's very upset with her and his family. How could he not distinguish between friend and foe? Zhao Yutan feels Zhao Bin is wrong, but she hates Lu Songli even more for causing Zhao Bin to become like this. When they are truly exiled, she will intervene and seek justice for her brother!
Xie Zhan combined the information he had gathered and quickly concluded that the information Zhao Yutan had just given him was probably true. There was at least an 80% chance that it was true.
Xie Zhan was shocked. A new emperor appoints new ministers. What benefits could the Xie family gain from this? By the way, who would be the successor? The crown prince? No, the crown prince was currently in the northern border, not in Chang'an. Currently, only the third and fourth princes were in Chang'an.
Xie Zhan's mind was working at high speed, and he soon realized that this was an opportunity. Should their Xie family take the opportunity to gain the credit of following the dragon?
In an instant, Xie Zhan thought of many things. If the emperor passed away, what would happen to the prince...what would happen to the Qin family? What would happen to the Lu family?
A chaotic stream of thoughts flooded Xie Zhan's mind, and he couldn't help but take a cup of tea from the table and take a big gulp.
"How long do you think that person will last?" Xie Zhan took a deep breath and asked Zhao Yutan in a low voice, his eyes always looking straight at her.
Zhao Yutan bit his lip and lowered his eyes. "Less than two months."
Less than two months... Less than two months... Xie Zhan murmured twice, then came to his senses.
Xie Zhan suppressed the excitement in his heart, held her green fingertips, and looked at her intently with his peach blossom eyes, "Yu Tan, thank you for telling me this news. It helped me a lot."
Zhao Yutan only felt that his eyes were filled with deep affection, and heat surged to her face, and her snow-white cheeks soon turned red.
Xie Zhan returned to the Xie family and began to summon people from the Xie faction.
Because the Xie family was preparing for a wedding, the whole house was bustling with activity, and these people coming in and out were not conspicuous.
For the next period of time, because everyone had stopped working and focused on doing big things, no, it was a happy event, the families lived a very peaceful life.
These four families hurriedly prepared for their wedding, unaware of the trouble their invitations, sent just a day apart, had caused for the many aristocratic families within Chang'an. Their own factions, along with those close to the Xie, Zhao, Lu, and Qin factions, were easy to deal with. The real problem was those who were neutral, those with no close ties to any of their families, such as the Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Rites.
Looking at the two bright red invitations, Lord Li, the Shaoqing of the Taichang Temple, often sighed.
"Dad, are you still worried about how to have the banquet?" asked the youngest son of the Li family.
Lord Li glared at him, "Is this a feast? This is lining up!" Then he complained, "This Xie family is useless! They only make things difficult for your father!"
The youngest son of the Li family nodded. This was indeed a difficult situation. Originally, the Qin and Lu families had announced their wedding dates first and sent out invitations, and they had already planned to attend. Then, the Xie family also announced their wedding date, also scheduled for the 15th day of the 12th lunar month. Couldn't they have moved it forward or backward?
Now that both families are doing the same thing, whose wedding should I go to? It's so annoying!
"Dad and Mom, can't you just go to one family each?"
"In theory, it's possible. But, between your mother and I, who will go to the Lu family, and who will go to the Xie family?"
"Is this all right?"
"Child, you're still too young. Your father wants to be casual, but will that guy Lu Desheng be casual with you? I heard that Lu Desheng dotes on his little daughter. Believe it or not, on the fifteenth day, if I go to the Xie family and your mother goes to the Lu family, you'll be reported!"
The Qin family was more reasonable, but Qin Sheng was also the second son and the youngest of his generation. This wedding was very important.
"But Dad, Xie Zhan is the eldest son of the Xie family. And Zhao Yutan is also very favored in the Zhao family. If you go to the Lu family, won't the Xie family remember you?"
Oh, my head is so heavy! I really wish I had a clone!
Suddenly, Lord Li had an idea, "I got it! Get sick! Just let your father get sick that day!" It should be okay if I don't go to anyone's house, right?
"Then your eldest brother and your mother will each go to one house."
"Dad, which house should my eldest brother and mother go to?"
As soon as the youngest son of the Li family asked this question, his wife and eldest son looked at him together.
Lord Li: ...Ah! Let him die!
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