There was a rosewood table and ambergris incense. The maid Ziyu gently placed the tray on the table and raised her eyes to secretly look at the person standing at the top.

The man was wearing a silk gown with a dark blue python pattern, and the round pearls on his crown were eye-catching, which made him look extraordinary. He was staring at a silver bow hanging on the wall with his hands behind his back. Seeing him so absorbed in his gaze, Ziyu was in a dilemma, wondering whether she should go up and interrupt him. She thought of Deputy Chief Li who had just hurried to report to the young marquis, and only asked her to serve carefully with a nervous look on his face, but did not explain the man's identity. She saw that the man was dressed in a very elegant manner, and knew that it was a rare distinguished guest.

She waited for a while, not wanting to neglect the distinguished guest, so she poured a cup of tea and handed it over carefully. Unexpectedly, the man turned around, and the corner of his robe swept the teacup, which fell to the ground with a "bang" and broke. Ziyu was so scared that she almost cried, and hurriedly knelt down to beg for mercy, but someone held her up steadily. With tears in her eyes, she raised her eyes to meet his gentle eyes, and heard him say in a gentle voice: "The ground is full of fragments, be careful not to cut your legs."

Ziyu looked at the face in front of her in a daze. He had gentle and handsome features, but he also had a natural aura that made her feel superior and dared not offend him. She was stunned for a long time before she came to her senses. She quickly squatted down to pick up the fragments and apologized again. The man smiled and said softly, "Take your time. Be careful not to hurt your hands."

Ziyu felt her face getting hot, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at him again. After finally cleaning up the floor, she was about to pour him another glass, but Xiaodu had already walked over. When he saw her like this, he asked with a dark face, "What are you doing in such a hurry?"

Ziyu was so frightened that her face turned pale. She stammered and tried to explain, but Xiao Du waved his hand impatiently and said, "Go out. We don't need you to serve us here."

Ziyu didn't dare to say another word, and hurried out as if escaping. When Xiao Du saw her close the door, he knelt down on both knees and said to the man standing in the room, "Your Majesty, I am here to see you."

The man standing in front of him, Emperor Mu Wen Zhao Yan, frowned slightly, lifted his robe and sat down on the huanghuali armchair beside him, and said jokingly, "Now that we are married, the etiquette has become more thorough."

Xiao Du stood up and said with a nonchalant smile: "Speaking of which, I have to thank Your Majesty. Otherwise, a man with such a bad reputation like me would never have been able to marry the daughter of the Zuo Xiangfu family."

Zhao Yan also smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have checked for you. Although Xia Yuanxi is a concubine's daughter, she has a quiet temperament and a pure heart. I have also conferred the title of Princess on her, so she should be worthy of you, the Marquis of Xuanyuan."

Xiao Du picked up the cup of tea on the table, handed it to Zhao Yan, and said, "Your Majesty, your visit today should not be as simple as praising my newlywed wife."

Zhao Yan took the teacup and put it to his lips, smiling even more, and said, "I haven't had your Biluochun for a long time, I really miss it." He paused, his face gradually became solemn and said, "According to the report from the spy in the country of Wu a few days ago, the country of Wu secretly sent a secret envoy to Murong. Although I don't know what they discussed, I am afraid that the border will be ready to move again. If the two countries attack together this time, I don't know if the tens of thousands of soldiers of the Xiao family army at Yuhan Pass can resist."

"Oh?" Xiao Du also frowned, but immediately smiled and said, "For such an important military matter, Your Majesty should quickly convene the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue to discuss countermeasures. Why condescend to come to me, a useless person who has been idle for a long time?"

Zhao Yan's face gradually turned cold, and he said angrily: "I know you never like to enter the palace, so I came to see you today, but I didn't expect you to still have this attitude. The enemy is about to invade, the border is in danger, and the Xiao family army is now leaderless. Do you really not care at all?"

Xiao Du said calmly, "I am me, the Xiao Family Army is the Xiao Family Army, and these have nothing to do with me anymore."

Zhao Yan stared at him for a long time, and finally sighed and said, "Chongjiang, you have changed."

Xiao Du glanced at him and said with a smile, "Really? Perhaps the climate and soil in the capital are more nurturing than those in the border areas. I have food and entertainment in the capital, and now I have a lovely wife to accompany me. I don't want to care about those fighting and killing things anymore."

Zhao Yan was finally enraged by him. He slammed the table, stood up, pointed at the silver bow on the wall and said, "Do you still remember what your father said when he gave you this silver bow? Do you still remember the oath we made that day?"

Xiao Du's cynical eyes finally showed some shock. He closed his eyes and recalled the day when he won his first great victory, and rode with him on the mountain outside Beijing, holding a bow. The two rode all the way to the top of the mountain, and then he turned over and dismounted to solemnly perform the etiquette of monarch and subject with him. He also smiled and helped him, and then the two of them got into a mess. He still remembered that he pointed at the prosperous streets at the foot of the mountain, full of ambition, and said: "Mingcheng, one day you will rule the world, and I will help you to protect this country."

He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the young emperor who had won the hearts of the people in just three years. He realized that the youthful spirit and the exciting past had become out of reach. So, he smiled and said, "The Wu Kingdom is just a spent force. Even if it joins forces with Mu Rong, it will not be able to make any big waves. I believe that the soldiers of the Xiao Family Army can guard the borders and protect the country with or without me. Your Majesty, why bother me again?"

Zhao Yan's expression changed several times, and finally he looked apologetic and sighed, "I know you are still blaming Ping Duguan for that incident. At that time, I delayed the transportation of supplies, Xia Zheng, and I also insisted on beheading him for delaying military operations under the pressure of my mother. Isn't this enough to repay me?"

When Xiao Du heard the name, anger flashed in his eyes, and he said, "He should be sorry for the nearly 10,000 soldiers who died tragically at Pingdu Pass, not me. Your Majesty sentenced him to death for the sake of those loyal souls who died fighting for the country. What does it have to do with me, Xiao Du?"

"You!" Seeing that he remained unmoved, Zhao Yan was so angry that he was speechless.

Xiao Du said with a playful smile: "Your Majesty, there is no need to persuade me. If Your Majesty really cares about our past friendship and wants to bet with me on a few rounds of double-sixes or go hunting in the suburbs of Beijing, Xiao Du will definitely accompany you. I have long forgotten about those matters of marching troops and transferring generals. Even if I reluctantly go to the battlefield, I will be useless. It is better to give the opportunity to those who are ambitious and courageous."

Zhao Yan shook his head and said helplessly: "Forget it, if you insist on doing this, it's useless for me to say anything more. How is my aunt's health recently? I haven't visited her for a long time. Since I'm here today, I might as well go and see her."

Xiao Du's smile faded slightly, and he said, "Mother has not been in good health, it would be good for Your Majesty to go and see her." So he led Zhao Yan out the door. Just as they arrived in front of Madam Zhao's room, they suddenly heard the sound of cups and plates falling on the ground, and it seemed that there was also the sound of Madam Zhao's weak questioning voice. Xiao Du had never heard his mother get so angry, so he hurried in and asked, "What's wrong with mother?"

Madam Zhao was sitting behind a desk, her face somewhat pale. Nanny Yu beside her was rubbing her back and soothing her breathing. A row of maids and old women were kneeling below her. Two of them were frantically picking up debris on the ground. When they saw Xiao Du and the others coming in, they hurriedly bowed towards them.

Mrs. Zhao saw Zhao Yan coming in from behind, and stood up in shock, ready to bow. Zhao Yan quickly stepped forward, held her arm, and said, "Aunt, please don't bow. How are you these days? Why are you so angry?"

Madam Zhao lowered her head and was about to reply, but she covered her lips and coughed a few times, looking as if she couldn't breathe. Everyone in the room was shocked. Xiao Du hurriedly came forward to help her, but Madam Zhao waved her hand at him and said, "It's nothing serious. Don't worry. I'll be fine after a while." Nanny Yu hurriedly came down and helped Madam Zhao sit back down. With tears in her eyes, she advised, "The doctor specifically told you not to get angry. I'm afraid you've hurt your vitality today. You need to rest well."

Zhao Yan frowned and said, "If that doesn't work, I'll go to the palace and ask a doctor to come and see you?" Madam Zhao shook her head and said, "It's just some old illnesses, why bother sending so many people. It's just that His Majesty rarely comes, and I can't take good care of him. It's really..." She couldn't help crying as she spoke, and Zhao Yan hurriedly said, "Aunt, why do you have to say that? I won't disturb you from resting. I'll come to visit you again when you're well."

Madam Zhao nodded and said to Xiao Du, "Du'er, you can go too. Don't worry. Mother is fine. They are just some ignorant servants. I can handle them myself. Please see His Majesty off." Xiao Du hesitated for a while and said, "Then mother, take a good rest and don't get angry again. If there is anything, let Nanny Yu come to me."

Seeing the two people walking away, Nanny Yu sent the crying servants out of the room and handed a cup of hot tea to Madam Zhao. Madam Zhao seemed to have recovered after drinking the tea and said coldly: "Who is the one who made the decision in this matter? Call her to me!"

So after a while, Yuan Xi was inexplicably called to Mrs. Zhao's room. She didn't know what was going on. She just stood in the room trembling for a long time before she heard Mrs. Zhao coldly say, "Did you find those workers?"

Yuan Xi was stunned for a moment before realizing that they were talking about the workers who were repairing the ancestral hall and the Buddhist hall. After hesitating for a while, he nodded and said, "It was Aunt Wang who found them, but they reported to me and confirmed it before letting them start the work."

Madam Zhao snorted coldly and said, "The Buddhist temple is a place for worshipping gods and practicing meditation. Who allowed you to touch it casually?"

Yuan Xi thought about what Aunt Wang said to her, and answered honestly: "It was for the Dragon Boat Festival. The master asked them to renovate both the ancestral hall and the Buddhist hall."

Mrs. Zhao was so angry that her face turned pale. She said, "Very good. You have only been married for a few days, and you already know how to use me to pressure others?"

Yuan Xi was shocked, but she was not good at speaking, and she didn't know how to explain it. She was so anxious that sweat kept coming out of her forehead. Rong Xuan, who was beside her, saw that the situation was not good, and hurriedly tried to smooth things over, "Madam, that's not the way it should be. The young madam..."

"Shut up!" Nanny Yu shouted angrily, "Where did you come from, little girl? You are so ignorant. The ladies are talking, and it's not your turn to speak!"

Mrs. Zhao shifted her gaze over and said softly, "You look familiar to me. Which room were you in before?"

Rong Xuan's eyes flashed with intense fear, and he trembled as he said, "It's...it's Aunt Wang's room."

Nanny Yu snorted coldly and said, "Those who come out of the servants' room just don't know the rules. If you don't teach them well, how can they serve the young lady well?"

Rong Xuan was so frightened that her legs went limp. She quickly grabbed Yuan Xi's sleeve and begged for help with eyes that looked like they were about to burst into tears. Yuan Xi hurriedly said, "If mother-in-law wants to punish me, then punish me. Rong Xuan is still young and doesn't understand anything."

Madam Zhao shook her head and said, "Nonsense, you are the young lady, you are delicate and precious, how can you take the punishment for a servant? Madam Yu, take her away and just give her a few slaps on the face as a punishment."

Rong Xuan stared with a pair of terrified eyes, and was dragged out before he could say a word. Hearing the crying and shouting coming from the courtyard, Yuan Xi felt cold all over. For the first time, he realized that he was so helpless. He only heard Mrs. Zhao's cold voice: "No matter what you want to do, you are not allowed to move the temple! Otherwise, if you offend the gods, will you bear the responsibility?"

Yuan Xi pursed her lips, tightly grasped the handkerchief in her hand, and finally mustered up the courage to whisper: "The renovation of the Buddhist temple was ordered by my father-in-law, and it is also related to the important matter of the Dragon Boat Festival. Yuan Xi really dare not make the decision on her own. I hope that my mother-in-law will understand."

"You!" Madam Zhao stared at those timid but unyielding eyes, holding on tightly to the yellow pear wood table beside her, and sneered, "Very good, Du'er really married a good wife." Nanny Yu quickly supported her and said, "Madam, take care of yourself."

When Yuan Xi saw that Madam Zhao was shaking with anger, the momentum she had just created with great difficulty was instantly half gone. She knew that she shouldn't have contradicted her mother-in-law like that, but the matter was done. She had no choice but to stand in front of Madam Zhao with a bitter face and her head lowered. She felt as if time had stopped and it was unbearable.

On the other side, in Tianxiang Courtyard, Aunt Wang was holding a pair of silver scissors, carefully trimming a pot of peonies. A maidservant beside her asked curiously, "This new bud is almost grown, why don't you cut off the remaining leaves on it? It will be ugly when they are tangled together." Aunt Wang smiled and said, "What do you know? It's better to let them entangle together to compete for nutrients. If there are no remaining leaves, and the new bud grows, how can the flowers next to it bloom beautifully?"

The little maid seemed to understand what was said, but at this moment, the head maid Siqin ran in. Aunt Wang quickly sent the little maid out. After hearing Siqin's report, she put down the silver scissors in her hand and said with a smug smile, "Has she finally lost her temper? I can't wait to see what shameful secrets she has hidden in her Buddhist temple!"