It's not convenient for Shang Huai to enter the main courtyard.
Pei Minxue then came in and called Pei Zhi out, saying that Shang Huai had arrived.
Madam Pei handed the baby over to the wet nurse and went out to greet the guests.
This was also the first time Madam Pei had met Shang Huai.
Lady Pei had met His Majesty before; His Majesty was handsome and held a high position.
Upon meeting Shang Huai, Madam Pei could only sigh, "My younger sister has such exceptional taste!"
Standing next to Shang Huai, Pei Minxue looked like a weakling.
It's not that Pei Min can't learn.
Shang Huai's physique is suited for fighting on the battlefield.
Perhaps it was because of Shang Huai's exercise, but Shang Huai had a very upright posture and looked very energetic.
He was handsome, with a touch of dashing charm, completely different from His Majesty.
After Shang Huai greeted Madam Pei, Pei Minxue introduced them to each other.
He said the jade he brought back yesterday was a gift from Shang Huai to their child.
Madam Pei thanked her repeatedly.
After exchanging pleasantries, Madam Pei sensibly suggested that she go to the kitchen to see what was for dinner and invited Shang Huai to stay for the meal.
Shang Huai didn't refuse and nodded in agreement.
"I'd like to ask you out for a spring outing tomorrow. Do you want to come?"
Pei Zhi didn't say whether she would go or not, but asked, "Where are we going?"
Shang Huai thought for a moment, "My family owns a manor where we can soak in hot springs."
"There's also an orchard nearby where we can pick fruit, go fishing, and then soak in a hot spring."
Pei Minxue stood aside silently, hoping that the two people would simply ignore him.
Pei Minxue dared not leave.
If he leaves room for Shang Huai and Pei Zhi, he fears His Majesty will hold him accountable later.
Pei Zhi was feeling a bit tired, so soaking in a hot spring should make her feel much better.
Pei Zhi agreed, "Okay."
Shang Huai immediately beamed with joy, "Then I'll come pick you up first thing tomorrow morning?"
"Okay, but not too early, I can't get up."
"It's alright," Shang Huai said with a smile. "I arrived early, so I'll wait for you for a while. I'm fine with waiting for as long as it takes."
Pei Minxue met Shang Huai and Pei Zhi and quickly made plans to go out and have fun the next day.
Pei Minxue couldn't help but remind him, "Lord Marquis, didn't you say that the Empress Dowager wanted you to go to the other residence tomorrow?"
Shang Huai's expression froze; clearly, he had completely forgotten about Pei Zhi after seeing her.
Shang Huai readily agreed, saying, "How about we let His Majesty go tomorrow?"
"Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager are, after all, mother and son. Your Majesty going in my place will surely make the Empress Dowager very happy."
Xiao Chengci rushed over upon hearing the commotion: "What am I going to do?"
Shang Huai and Pei Minxue bowed with their hands clasped in greeting, and Pei Zhi also bowed slightly in return.
"Your Majesty, I say that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has not had a good appetite these past few days. If Your Majesty were to dine with her, perhaps her appetite would improve considerably."
Xiao Chengci retorted, "The Empress Dowager has a poor appetite because she is worried about you. As long as you go, the Empress Dowager will be fine."
"I have already made arrangements to accompany Zhizhi to the hot springs at the estate tomorrow."
Shang Huai said matter-of-factly, "Moreover, His Majesty is the Empress Dowager's own son, so it would be more appropriate for His Majesty to accompany the Empress Dowager."
Before Xiao Chengci could speak, "Zhizhi, do you think His Majesty shouldn't go to the Empress Dowager to show filial piety since he has just returned?"
Pei Zhi didn't know whether Xiao Chengci should fulfill his filial duties.
But Pei Zhi didn't want to lie on the same bed with Xiao Chengci tonight.
"Your Majesty, your trip to the northern city must have left the palace with a lot of affairs to attend to."
Pei Zhi advised, "Even if you don't go to see the Empress Dowager, you should prioritize important matters."
Pei Minxue nodded in agreement, "Yes, there are a lot of things waiting for His Majesty to handle."
In this way, Xiao Chengci had no way to deal with it.
Shang Huai mentioned that on his way here today, he saw a vendor selling puppies and other small animals.
Pei Zhi was interested, so Shang Huai said he would take her to see it and let her dance a little to recover.
The two of them swaggered out of the mansion.
Pei Minxue glanced at the two figures as they walked away and sighed softly, “Your Majesty… there are some things you should prepare for in advance.”
Xiao Chengci was somewhat confused: "What do you mean?"
"Lord Shang is so brazenly taking Zhizhi in and out."
"It probably won't be long before the Empress Dowager finds out that Shang Huai has a close relationship with a woman."
There are some things that Pei Minxue doesn't dare to say too obviously.
Pei Minxue couldn't very well say that the Empress Dowager favored Shang Huai, her nephew.
If the Empress Dowager finds out that Shang Huai has a woman he likes, she will probably grant him a marriage.
At that time, there will likely be some misunderstandings between His Majesty and the Empress Dowager.
“Minxue.” Xiao Chengci understood Pei Minxue’s meaning and said solemnly, “I am now His Majesty.”
"In this world, apart from Zhizhi, no one dares to disobey me."
Even one's own mother is no exception in Xiao Chengci's eyes.
Pei Minxue scratched his head; given the relationship between His Majesty and the Empress Dowager, he couldn't really say anything.
"What I mean is that you should inform the Empress Dowager first, so as to avoid... an ugly situation later, after all, she is the Empress Dowager."
It's always better to give a heads-up beforehand than to cause a huge uproar later.
Although Xiao Chengci is the emperor, if he really gets serious, the empress dowager will naturally have no choice but to back down.
However, Xiao Chengci didn't fare much better, since the Empress Dowager was, after all, His Majesty's mother.
Of all virtues, filial piety is the most important.
Xiao Chengci nodded slightly, indicating that he had taken Pei Minxue's words to heart.
Xiao Chengci stayed overnight again, and the commotion lasted until midnight.
As dawn broke, Xiao Chengci got up and went to the other courtyard.
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