Chapter 141 Good Things Come in Pairs
Being granted a title or the position of prime minister are both joyous occasions worthy of a banquet to entertain relatives and friends. Even if the duke or prime minister himself does not hold a banquet, his relatives, friends and colleagues will come to offer their congratulations.
However, Xiao Yu had no intention of holding a grand banquet for this occasion. Meanwhile, apart from the simple congratulations from the civil and military officials after Emperor Yuanxing promoted Xiao Yu to Right Chancellor, few officials from the capital came to the Marquis's residence to give Xiao Yu gifts. After all, everyone knew Xiao Yu's temperament, and flattering him in hopes of getting promoted was useless. If they actually came to give gifts, they might even be rebuffed by Xiao Yu.
The wives of officials in the capital were all capable assistants to their husbands. If the officials wanted to curry favor with someone, the wives would ask the women in that person's family to help them. So, since no official in the capital wanted to flatter Xiao Yu, naturally no official's wife would come to Luo Fu to fawn over him.
Luo Fu was happy to have some peace and quiet, while Xiao Rong, the new prime minister's father, was persuaded by a group of old friends to treat them to meals at a restaurant several times. Then, because he woke up in the middle of the night and vomited violently, Deng confiscated all his private savings. Without money, Xiao Rong couldn't show off to his wealthy old friends in the capital, so he rode to Ganquan Town, where he ate Luo's family's food and boasted to his old buddy Luo Dayuan.
Luo Dayuan was too lazy to listen to Xiao Rong's praise of others, but when Xiao Rong praised his son-in-law, Luo Dayuan and Wang Qiuyue were happy to entertain him.
On the 25th of the eleventh month, Kangping hosted a party, inviting Luo Fu, Princess Shun, and Princess Qi to her residence to play cards.
The three imperial relatives all removed their mourning clothes in September, but it wasn't until Emperor Kangping began receiving guests that Princess Shun and Princess Qi resumed their normal lives.
As usual, Rose arrived about 25 minutes early, only to find that the two princesses had also arrived exceptionally early.
Seeing Luo Fu's surprise, Princess Shun smiled and said, "Times have changed. We dare not keep the Prime Minister's wife waiting."
Luo Fu: "...Even if it were several hundred years from now, I would not dare to trouble the Grand Princess and the two princesses to wait for me."
Princess Qi: "Oh, Fu'er, does this mean you're planning to be husband and wife with your Prime Minister Xiao for hundreds of years?"
Luo Fu smiled brightly: "What I mean is, I want to be card-playing partners with these three noble people for hundreds of years, and live a life of luxury with you for all eternity."
Princess Qi couldn't win an argument with Luo Fu, but the jealousy in her eyes was genuine. Back when she first met Luo Fu at Kangping's place, Luo Fu didn't dare to breathe loudly in front of her. Now, Princess Qi's status as a princess was becoming increasingly insignificant, while Luo Fu was rising rapidly in rank with Xiao Yu, becoming the most sought-after noblewoman in the capital, both inside and outside the palace.
The four of them, familiar with the place, arrived at the warm room where they would play cards in the winter.
Kang Ping and Luo Fu were so familiar with each other that their relationship was practically like family, so he just focused on playing cards and didn't tease Luo Fu about her new identity much.
Princess Qi had always fawned over Kang Ping during the late emperor's reign. Now, with one being an aunt and the other an uncle, they weren't exactly close in Emperor Yuanxing's eyes, so Princess Qi dared to stir up trouble again. While playing around, Princess Qi glanced at Luo Fu, then gave Kang Ping a mocking look: "Fu'er is now the Prime Minister's wife, and Luo Song has been promoted to commander of the Upper Eastern Guard by the Emperor. What, doesn't our Grand Princess intend to give the Prime Minister's wife's brother a proper title?"
Ordinary people might not know about the relationship between Kangping and Luosong, but Princess Qi and Princess Shun were already aware of it.
Luo Fu's eyelids twitched slightly. Just as she was about to speak, she heard the Grand Princess opposite her say casually, "Since Second Sister-in-law has said so, wouldn't it be disrespectful to the Prime Minister's wife if I didn't respond?"
Luo Fu: "..."
So unexpectedly, he forgot to grab the Raphthong cards and stared blankly at Kang Ping.
Kang Ping glared at her: "I'm recruiting your brother, not you. What are you standing there for? Hurry up and play your cards."
Luo Fu snapped out of her reverie, but couldn't help asking, "Does Your Highness really intend to make my brother your consort?"
As Kang Ping looked at the cards she played, he replied, "Of course, that's the wife of Prime Minister Xiao's own brother. So many young ladies are eyeing him. If I don't step in, your brother will run away. Where am I supposed to find such a capable consort?"
Luo Fu: "...Your Highness may joke, but my brother will not run away. His heart has already taken root in your mansion. It's a pity he won't bear fruit, otherwise he would have given Your Highness seven or eight little fruits long ago."
Princess Shun laughed so hard she spat out her tea.
After the card game ended, Luo Fu stayed behind and sat down next to Kang Ping, asking again to confirm, "Your Highness really didn't lie to me? My brother is truly blessed?"
Kang Ping poked her still delicate and fair cheek and snorted, "As you said, your brother has taken root with me. I've asked him to get married several times, but he won't listen. Now that I'm the Grand Princess and the Emperor's aunt, if I don't give your brother a title, the people of the capital will probably call me an old lewd woman."
Luo Fu didn't believe it: "When has His Highness ever cared about those gossips? In fact, His Highness was moved by my brother's devotion, which is why he was willing to grant his wish, isn't that right?"
Kang Ping: "...Your brother and I are almost eighty years old combined. Don't try to disgust me with those words. By the way, it's been too cold lately, so I'm planning to hold the wedding next April. The wedding ceremony will be handled by the steward in my household. Tell your parents not to worry about it."
Upon hearing this, Luo Fu finally believed that the Grand Princess was serious, and excitedly hugged Kang Ping and shook him several times.
Kangping, who had never been shaken like this before, felt both disgusted and helpless. Then, thinking that Luo Song often made the same silly mistakes, Kangping let Luo Fu shake him.
Luo Fu was overjoyed for her brother. She first went to her sister's place to share the good news before returning to the Marquis's residence. When Xiao Yu returned in the evening, she happily told him the story again.
Xiao Yu neither understood what Princess Kangping saw in Luo Song, nor why Luo Song would be so infatuated with such an arrogant princess. But seeing his wife smiling so happily, Xiao Yu said a few nice things, such as congratulating his brother-in-law on finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
The next day, Luo Fu and her sister returned to Ganquan Town to share the good news with their parents.
As if in a dream, Wang Qiuyue finished praying to the Bodhisattva before quietly asking her daughter, "Grand Princess, is it because Yuan Zhi was promoted to Prime Minister that you are willing to give your brother face?"
Luo Fu never considered this possibility: "No, Xiao Yu wouldn't give the Grand Princess any benefits as Prime Minister. Besides, the Grand Princess has no reason to ask Xiao Yu for anything. Otherwise, when Xiao Yu was the Minister of Revenue and was supervising the canal construction and was extremely popular with the late Emperor, why didn't the Grand Princess give her brother preferential treatment because of him?"
Roland: "In my opinion, the Grand Princess is getting older and has experienced the pain of losing several loved ones. Compared to her youthful indulgence in sensual pleasures, she now longs for a close companion by her side. Ah Song is not as well-read and literate as his brother-in-law or as skilled in military strategy as those sons of military families, but he is honest. Once he set his sights on the Grand Princess, he won't even consider other girls from the village or from official families. This devotion is something that can't be compared to just picking any gigolo."
Wang Qiuyue listened to her youngest daughter's words for a while, then to her eldest daughter's, and finally said, "Forget it, forget it. As long as the Grand Princess is willing to take you brothers as her husbands, I'm content!"
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Luo Fu was overjoyed for her brother when, at the end of the month, Xiao Lin finally returned from Liaozhou and ordered people to carry four boxes of jewels into the palace to meet the emperor.
Upon learning that Xiao Lin had actually left Emperor Yin with a plan to "build a Great Wall on three sides" as a means of wreaking havoc on the country, Emperor Yuanxing laughed and said, "Since Emperor Yin doesn't want me to fight him, he is very likely to adopt your plan."
Xiao Lin: "If Emperor Yin hesitates, I will secretly send him a secret letter saying that the civil and military officials of our dynasty have learned that they want to build the Great Wall and have all advised the emperor to launch a northern expedition before the Great Wall of Yin is completed. However, since the emperor has already stated that he will observe three years of mourning for the late emperor, it would be against etiquette to launch an expedition at this time. Therefore, he has decided to wait until after the mourning period to launch an expedition. When Emperor Yin sees this, he will definitely mobilize the entire nation to build the Great Wall."
Emperor Yuanxing: "What a clever provocation! But is it really possible that the Yin Kingdom will actually build the Great Wall on three sides?"
Xiao Lin: "I believe that even if the Yin Kingdom has the financial resources to build the Great Wall, it will not have enough laborers. Unless the Yin Emperor mobilizes all the people of Liaozhou and orders them to work day and night, the people of Liaozhou will hate the Yin Emperor. At that time, Your Majesty only needs to order our spies in the Yin Kingdom to stir up trouble, and the people of Liaozhou will surely rebel."
Emperor Yuanxing thought this method was feasible. In order to reward Xiao Lin for his merits, he gave Xiao Lin all the four boxes of jewels that Emperor Yin had bribed him with, and decided to promote Xiao Lin to the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Ji Province, to be taken up after the New Year.
At this moment, only the emperor and his minister were in the imperial study. Emperor Yuanxing confided in Xiao Lin, saying, "Consort Li and Chen Ruliang intend to seize the throne. I believe in the loyalty of the Li brothers to me, but the Li family's military power is too great, which is not conducive to the stability of the court in the long run. Therefore, I must promote more trusted generals who can guard the border for me. Your brother is too honest and kind. Only you can share my burdens."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Lin immediately knelt down and pledged his loyalty to the young emperor before him.
Emperor Yuanxing helped him up and explained, "It's good that you understand my expectations. On the surface, I sent you to Jizhou to keep a close eye on Emperor Yin's policies and to urge him to build the Great Wall. This will also reduce Li Chong's suspicion of you. Of course, Li Chong has guarded the northern border for more than 30 years and has mastered the old Duke's teachings. You should learn from him after you go there so that you can take over the border army in the future."
Xiao Lin smiled and said, "To be honest, Your Majesty, I have been taken care of by the old Duke and have been learning military strategy and martial arts in the Duke's mansion since I was a child. I have always admired him. Now, thanks to Your Majesty's favor, I also have the opportunity to legitimately go to General Li to learn from him."
Emperor Yuanxing encouraged him, saying, "In terms of family background, you are indeed inferior to Li Chong, but your military strategy is not necessarily inferior to his. What you lack is only practical experience."
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After leaving the palace, Xiao Lin returned to the Marquis's residence with four boxes of jewels. Although he could have taken all of these gifts back to his second wife, he still gave two boxes to his parents as a token of respect. He also picked out a string of translucent white pearl necklaces to give to his little niece who had come to pick up her second uncle.
Cheng'er glanced at the four boxes of jewelry, then at her second uncle, who had gotten a bit tanned. Her dark, round eyes seemed to hold a secret.
Xiao Lin picked up his little niece and teased her, "Tuan'er, are you thinking that even though your father is the prime minister and a high-ranking official, he's still not as powerful as your second uncle?"
Cheng Jie'er: "..."
Deng laughed: "Tuan'er, don't listen to your second uncle. Your father didn't want to be greedy, otherwise he could have brought back more than a dozen boxes of silver when he was the Minister of Revenue."
Luo Fu immediately added, "Bringing them back is useless. Corrupt officials will eventually be locked up in jail and never get out."
Upon hearing this, Chengjie looked up at her second uncle with concern.
Xiao Lin looked at his mother with resentment: "...The way you're saying it makes it sound like I stole these four boxes of jewelry."
Ms. Deng was stunned for a moment, then clutched her stomach and burst into laughter.
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Author's Note: Here it comes! The next chapter will be two years from now!
100 little red envelopes, see you tomorrow!
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