Chapter 17 017 New Year's Eve arrived in a sticky, gooey manner.
The night was pitch black, with only a few lanterns hanging high along the way casting a dim light.
With his left hand holding the four gift boxes tied in two strings, Xiao Yu held his wife's hand in his right hand and said in a low voice, "Father has always been afraid of the powerful and might be taking his anger out on you because he's worried that the old Duke might hold a grudge against him. You don't need to take his words to heart."
Luo Fu smiled at him: "With you backing me up and my mother protecting me, I'm not afraid of my father." I'm only afraid of the powerful and wealthy.
Xiao Yu only let go of his wife's hand after confirming that she wasn't frightened by her father, since they were outside after all.
Back at Shensi Hall, while waiting for the kitchen to prepare the meal, the couple opened the gifts sent by Master Li in the side room: a box containing two bottles of topical ointment, a box of tonic soup, a box of flower tea, and a box of pastries. For a powerful family like the Duke's Mansion, these four boxes of gifts were just right. If they were too valuable or if they were to give money directly, it would seem as if they didn't consider the Xiao family as relatives and were deliberately insulting them.
Seeing the Duke's family's attitude from the apology, Luo Fu breathed a sigh of relief.
After seeing off Master Li, Xiao Yu put the matter out of his mind. After washing up after dinner, he sat on the bed and offered to check his wife's back injury.
Luo Fu sat with her back to him, and cooperatively unbuttoned her inner garment.
It was a begonia-red undergarment, the red silk half-undone and hanging from her arm, revealing a large expanse of fair and delicate shoulders and neck; the touch of red that was there at midday had long since disappeared.
Xiao Yu tentatively touched the wound, and Luo Fu only felt a little cold. She said it didn't hurt anymore and started to pull her inner garment up.
A hand pressed down on her right arm from behind as she tried to raise it, and then warm lips landed on the back of her neck.
Luo Fu trembled slightly, letting Xiao Yu turn her around.
Newlyweds, they had been intimate many times before, but until tonight, Luo Fu had always thought Xiao Yu was both gentle and greedy, which was why he had clung to her several times in one night, only stopping when she pinched and pushed him away. Now, as her fingers inadvertently brushed against Xiao Yu's taut back and the strong arm supporting him to one side, Luo Fu suddenly realized the strength beneath Xiao Yu's handsome and refined exterior.
Both were scholars. The brother-in-law could be polite and impeccable even when facing his stepmother and brother-in-law with whom he had a strained relationship. Xiao Yu was different. He not only dared to speak out against his own father, but he also dared to challenge the Duke of Dingguo, who was two generations above him and held a high position and great power. Other scholars would be unable to reason with soldiers, but Xiao Yu was not afraid because he could also beat up the纨绔 (spoiled brats) until they had no choice but to listen!
"Were the four guards around Li Qi and Li Jiu really subdued by you and Qingchuan together?"
This was the first time Luo Fu had spoken to him seriously at such a time, and Noon Light was shocked, forgetting to ask for details.
Xiao Yu looked down and simply hummed in agreement.
Luo Fu: "So you not only studied, but also practiced martial arts like your older brothers?"
Xiao Yu: "...I only learned martial arts, and my skills are not as good as my eldest and second brothers."
Even now, he can't beat either of his two older brothers. It's impossible for them to grab him and beat him as they did when they were kids. If Xiao Yu fights back with all his might, he can last for dozens of rounds. If he can't last, he can run away.
Luo Fu understood. Xiao Yu also possessed the blood and spirit of a martial artist, which made him more courageous than ordinary scholars.
She fell silent, and Xiao Yu countered, "Why do you ask that?"
Luo Fu didn't know how to answer.
Xiao Yu recalled his wife's small gesture of stroking his shoulders, back, and arms, realizing that he was no longer the kind of weak scholar.
Xiao Yu had experienced the frustration of being beaten up by others who relied on his height, age, and strength, so he was proud of his current martial arts skills and strength.
A gentleman should not flaunt his strength, so Xiao Yu silently let his wife feel his power.
If Luo Fu was dissatisfied with his finally revealed straightforward nature or felt a little uneasy, after such a satisfying encounter that she couldn't even talk about with her own sister, all that dissatisfaction and unease was gone thanks to Xiao Yu's service. After all, he was doing it to support her and was a good husband who cared for her.
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The Xiao family would certainly not publicize their feud with the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. Even if Xiao Rong and Deng Shi had a hundred times the courage, they would not tell anyone. However, when Li Gong arranged for his children and grandchildren to apologize to the Xiao family and the village children's homes, and even when he decided to punish Qi Lang and Jiu Lang in front of his four daughters-in-law and grandchildren, Li Gong did not intend to keep the matter a secret.
The daughters-in-law couldn't keep secrets. They would whisper among their own families about the jokes about their sisters-in-law and nephews. When the younger siblings quarreled, they would reveal the embarrassing things that the seventh and ninth sons had done. When the servants heard this, they would tell their friends in the household or to servants in other households. Otherwise, how could so many secrets of high-ranking families and even palace secrets have flowed into the common people?
As the story spread, it eventually reached the ears of Yang Sheng, the Left Chancellor.
After court that day, Yang Sheng deliberately walked to Li Gong's side, keeping some distance from the ministers behind him, and said solemnly, "I have also heard about the beautiful story of the Duke disciplining his grandson to protect the people. The Duke's actions are fair and impartial, which is truly admirable."
Li Gong, a burly man, glared at the old fox as Yang Sheng bowed in submission, then sighed awkwardly, "I have failed in my duty to raise my grandsons, and have almost raised two spoiled brats. I am sorry to have made the Left Prime Minister laugh at me."
Yang Sheng: "You flatter me, Duke. People like us, who are busy with political and military affairs, rarely have time for family matters, so it is inevitable that we will make some oversights."
Li Gong: "Yes, that's why I have to thank Xiao Yu. If he hadn't stepped in to remind me in time, who knows what kind of trouble my two rascals would have gotten into in the future."
Don't even think about making a fool of him; he's very magnanimous!
Yang Sheng laughed and said, "With the story of the Duke punishing his grandson being told, Xiao Yu has also gained a reputation for speaking out against injustice and not fearing the powerful. He should be the one thanking the Duke."
Before this, how many people in and around the capital had ever heard of Xiao Yu of the Marquis of Zhongyi's mansion? But almost everyone in the Great Zhou Dynasty knew of Duke Dingguo, Li Gong. Xiao Yu's name was destined to spread far and wide along with Li Gong's famous story, and even be recorded in the biographies of famous generals written by historians for future generations to read.
Li Gong waved his hand and said cheerfully, "Xiao Yu has been fearless of powerful figures for quite some time now. There's no need for me to help him make a name for himself. If you don't believe me, go ask the Emperor. He's already heard about it."
Because of his outspokenness, Xiao Yu had many conflicts with the sons of powerful and wealthy families in the capital. To the average person, these were all trivial matters, but everyone could see Xiao Yu's outspoken character in these small things. Daring to offend the sons of powerful and wealthy families was equivalent to not being afraid of them.
In addition, Li Gong also knew that Yang Sheng was the first powerful figure Xiao Yu had truly offended. If Yang Sheng were truly magnanimous, Xiao Yu would have already made a name for himself, instead of getting involved in a ridiculous story about a duke punishing his grandson.
Yang Sheng, sensing the veiled meaning in the old Duke's words, was speechless.
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When the story spread throughout official circles, Empress Gao in the palace also heard about it. She specially summoned Lady Liao, the wife of the Duke of Dingguo, and Crown Princess Li Lan to her inner palace, asking Lady Liao, who knew the inside story best, to tell her in detail this admirable tale. Admittedly, the two grandsons of the Li family had committed misdeeds, but the fact that Li Gong, a Duke of Dingguo, was willing to punish his own grandsons for the sake of ordinary people was considered a commendable story by both officials and commoners.
Liao began by recounting how she invited Deng, Luo Fu, and several other women and daughters-in-law to her home to watch a play. Among them, Luo Fu was the victim who had suffered injustice, so Liao inevitably mentioned her the most, mostly with words of praise and affection.
Empress Gao: "Yangzhou is a wonderful place. It has produced beauties since ancient times. Even you praised Luo's beauty, which makes me want to summon her to the palace to see her for myself."
Liao smiled and said, "It is Luo's good fortune to be summoned by the Empress. However, compared with the Empress's beauty in her youth, Luo is nothing."
Empress Gao was indeed a rare beauty in her youth, so Liao's words were not entirely flattery.
After Lady Liao finished relaying Xiao Yu's complaint to Li Gong, Empress Gao twirled the Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist and said with amusement, "This child's temper hasn't changed at all since he was a teenager."
Lady Liao asked in surprise, "Your Majesty has also heard of Xiao Yu?"
Empress Gao nodded slightly, but offered no explanation.
It was ten years ago, during the Mid-Autumn Festival. My daughter, Princess Kangping, asked her fourth brother, Prince Fu, to take her outside the palace to admire the moon. Since it was a last-minute decision, no arrangements had been made beforehand, and she only brought a group of guards to secretly follow and protect her. As they strolled around, my daughter saw a bridge that was perfect for moon viewing. However, the people also thought the bridge was beautiful, and it became very congested as waves of people came and went.
To appease his sister, Prince Fu ordered his guards to block both ends of the bridge, preventing the people from crossing.
The common people dared not cause trouble. Upon learning that the nobleman was admiring the moon on the bridge, they all obediently turned away. Not long after, another young man in brocade robes arrived; it was Xiao Yu. After being stopped by the guards, Xiao Yu neither argued nor left. Instead, he walked to the nearby bank and stared intently at Prince Fu and Princess Kangping on the bridge without moving.
The brother and sister found it strange and sent someone to summon Xiao Yu to the bridge, asking him why he was standing on the shore and even rudely peeping at the two of them.
Xiao Yu said, "Your Highnesses find the moon view here to be rare. In my opinion, it is also quite rare for Your Highnesses to occupy a bridge alone and stand above the common people on this Mid-Autumn Festival night when officials and the people are celebrating together. Therefore, I stopped to take a look."
Prince Fu and Princess Kangping: "..."
The next day, Princess Kangping told Empress Gao about it.
Empress Gao asked her daughter with a smile, "He was so sarcastic to you, didn't you punish him?"
Princess Kangping looked helpless: "My fourth brother and I did indeed ruin the people's enjoyment of going up the bridge to admire the moon by abusing our status. His words were harsh, but they were not wrong. If we punish him, wouldn't that just prove that we are abusing our power to oppress the people?"
That's how Empress Gao remembered Xiao Yu.
Crown Princess Li Lan noticed that Empress Gao seemed to admire Xiao Yu. After returning to the East Palace, she specially had a gift prepared and asked her mother to deliver it to Luo Fu: "Tell her that I am also grateful to Xiao Yu for correcting the mistakes of my two nephews and helping our Duke's Mansion to restore its reputation in time. It's just a pity that she suffered injustice because of it."
Ms. Liao: "That's good. This way she'll feel more at ease and won't overthink things when she's home alone."
Therefore, in late November, Lady Liao invited Luo Fu and her two sisters-in-law to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion to watch a play. In addition to helping to deliver the Crown Princess's gifts, it was also to continue to enhance the relationship between the women of the two families.
The Crown Princess was quite generous, gifting Luo Fu a box containing four boxes of rouge, a luxury reserved for imperial concubines, and a box of precious spices.
Luo Fu was completely relieved, because if the Duke's Mansion really wanted to hold a grudge against the Xiao family, there would be no need for the Crown Princess to do this superficial act of maintaining good relations.
Feeling relieved, Luo Fu took two boxes of rouge to find her sister. Unable to complain about Xiao Yu's words, Luo Fu poured out all of it to her sister.
"He was just lucky that he didn't run into any powerful and tyrannical people, otherwise the entire Marquis's mansion would have been implicated and suffered greatly because of him."
“I didn’t sleep well for several nights. Once I dreamed that Li Jiulang tied me to a tree and kept shooting at me with a slingshot. Xiao Yu tried to save me, but was pinned to the ground and severely beaten by more than a dozen guards from the Li family.”
The only noble relative Roland and his wife had in the capital was his sister. If his sister didn't come, Roland would never go to the Marquis's mansion. He usually stayed quietly at home.
Having only learned what her sister and brother-in-law had gone through today, Roland said with lingering fear, "Yes, brother-in-law did act rashly, but perhaps because he lives in the capital and knows the old Duke's character, he dared to do such a thing... Never mind, in the end he was protecting you, so he had a peaceful end. Sister, don't be angry with him. Wait, you didn't argue with him about this, did you?"
Luo Fu scoffed, "No, neither the Marquis nor his wife's second brother like his personality. They've tried everything they could to persuade him, including his own parents and brothers. They couldn't change him. How could I, a newlywed wife, possibly have that kind of ability?"
Even if a son has a falling out with his parents, the whole family will still work together when something happens; they can't just abandon him. Married couples are different. Arguments hurt their relationship, and too many hurts make it harder to stay together. Luo Fu's current confidence and ease in the Marquis's mansion comes from Xiao Yu. Unless Xiao Yu really angers her, Luo Fu will never easily argue with him.
Roland hugged his sister and patted her hand, saying, "As your brother-in-law said, after his commotion, no one will dare to bully you anymore. Besides, these are just minor grievances. People like Li Jiulang are definitely a minority. From now on, your brother-in-law will work diligently as an official, and you can enjoy a life of luxury in the inner quarters of the Marquis's mansion as his third wife."
Luo Fu had been hoping for just that. When she returned, she set strict rules for Xiao Yu, requiring him to concentrate on his studies in the front courtyard and only allow him to spend the night in the middle courtyard on days ending in five or ten.
Xiao Yu couldn't refute his wife's decision, so every night he could go to the central courtyard, he would do it at least three times. Although the young couple didn't see or talk much during the day, every time they shared a bed, the slight estrangement that had been there for four days would be broken down and destroyed by Xiao Yu, making them as intimate as if they had become one person.
Most of the twelfth lunar month passed in such quiet, regular, and pleasantly tedious days. As the year drew to a close, the Marquis's residence began to receive invitations one after another.
Deng told Xiao Yu to stay home and prepare for the exam. She only took her youngest daughter-in-law out of Shensi Hall. Anyway, no relatives or friends outside cared about Xiao Yu. Even if they did, preparing for the exam was a respectable excuse.
Luo Fu was beautiful, the kind of beauty that would catch anyone's eye. She was also sweet-talking and always smiling, poised and generous without being obsequious. With Yang Yanzhen's deliberate support, Luo Fu smoothly integrated into the circle of noblewomen in the capital, becoming even more popular than Deng Shi and Li Huaiyun. Even if someone disliked her, they couldn't find anything wrong with Luo Fu.
Every time she went out to visit someone, Deng would praise her youngest daughter-in-law to Xiao Rong: "Fu'er is my own daughter, how wonderful! With her around, those noble ladies treat me much kinder. If I could exchange the third son for the Luo family's son, then I could be as treacherous as you were back then, handing him a letter of divorce and sending him back to Yangzhou without a second thought."
Xiao Rong pondered for a moment, then snorted, "So it turns out that the third brother's wife and I are kindred spirits. I like to associate with the powerful and wealthy, and so does she. The third brother always looks down on me, but he would protect any wife with a different personality. In the end, it all comes down to him being lustful towards his wife. What kind of gentleman is he pretending to be?"
Deng spat at him: "You're just currying favor with the powerful, while Fu'er is just being friendly. They're completely different. Fu'er has more backbone than you and is better at talking than you."
Xiao Rong: "If we were to become friends again, where would she have gotten to befriend powerful people if I hadn't brought her and Lao San together?"
Madam Deng: "That's something you owe the Luo family. If Fu'er hadn't come into the family, the eldest son's legs might have been crippled long ago!"
Xiao Rong then shut his mouth.
On the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, the last day before the officials were about to take their New Year's holiday, Emperor Yongcheng looked forward to the coming year with all the civil and military officials in the main hall. Empress Gao in the inner palace also sent palace servants to deliver invitations one after another, inviting a group of imperial relatives, nobles, ministers and their families to a banquet at the palace on New Year's Eve.
The Marquis of Zhongyi's residence, Xiao Rong and his wife, as well as three young couples were among those invited.
As in previous years, the Emperor and Empress have never neglected to bestow their favor upon the Xiao family.
Therefore, Yang Yanzhen and Li Huaiyun were used to it, but Luo Fu, who had just learned that she could actually go to the palace to eat at the banquet, was extremely surprised, happy and nervous.
She was the founding empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Could she really step into the imperial family to meet such a noble person?
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Author's Note: Here comes the first chapter. The second chapter will likely be released around 6 PM.
100 little red envelopes, see you tonight! [kissing emoji]
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