Chapter 61 Extra [VIP]
Chapter Summary: Family Feast (Part 1)
"Le Xin, Feng Rong, open the door! I'm back!"
Liu Shiyu stood outside the princess's residence, holding Xu Luchuan's hand with one hand and banging on the gate with the other.
The person inside, hearing the commotion outside, dared not make a sound, only cautiously opening the door a tiny crack to peek out. Liu Shiyu bent down to meet the person's gaze, then smiled squintingly, "Yuanbao, where are they?"
Upon discovering that the person knocking was Liu Shiyu, the boy named Yuanbao immediately opened the gate and excitedly shouted, "Your Highness! Your Highness! Our Highness is back!"
Upon hearing this, Feng Rong came running.
Having not seen Liu Shiyu for some time, Feng Rong was deeply worried about him. But there was nothing she could do; she could only eat vegetarian food and pray for Liu Shiyu's well-being all day. She had visibly lost weight. In the blink of an eye, she appeared at the gate of the mansion like a gust of wind and rushed into Liu Shiyu's arms.
"Your Highness, you're alive! That's wonderful!"
Liu Shiyu's hands were glued to Xu Luchuan's, and even with Feng Rong holding her so tightly, neither of them let go. Looking at Feng Rong in her arms, she just pouted and joked, "Still alive? Good! Feng Rong, can't you stop wishing me well!"
"Yes, yes, yes, I've been looking forward to your safe return~" Feng Rong said, snuggling tightly into Liu Shiyu's arms.
Liu Shiyu patted her on the shoulder.
"Alright, alright, I understand. Let me go first, I can hardly breathe because you're choking me."
Upon hearing this, Feng Rong reluctantly withdrew from her embrace. However, after carefully examining Liu Shiyu's clothes and makeup, she couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Your Highness, did you prepare this especially to welcome Young Master Xu? In that case, shouldn't we also address Young Master Xu as the Imperial Son-in-Law?"
Hearing her say that, Xu Luchuan couldn't help but smile. He seemed quite looking forward to being called the imperial son-in-law.
But Liu Shiyu's cheeks flushed red as she hurriedly released him, then she raised her hand and shoved Feng Rong, saying, "Stop it, stop it. Xiao Lü and I have been busy all day and are starving. We especially want to eat roasted meat today, so hurry up and prepare it! Hurry up and prepare it!"
"Huh?" Confused, Feng Rong was pushed away by Liu Shiyu. "Alright, alright. I'll get ready."
Feng Rong left, and also called away the other unnecessary people.
Liu Shiyu stood awkwardly under the eaves. Although she couldn't wait to marry Xu Luchuan, she still felt flustered when she heard about this topic. Casually tugging at her eye-catching wedding dress, she lowered her eyes and said, "Xiao Lü, go wait for me in the courtyard. I'll go change into this dress."
Just as Liu Shiyu finished speaking and was about to run away, Xu Luchuan suddenly grabbed her and said softly, "Ayu, you look really beautiful in this wedding dress. I wonder when you can wear it for me?"
"I, I, I..."
Liu Shiyu was confused. She had never been so coy before. Perhaps it was the joy of separation that made her so shy. To her surprise, Xu Luchuan felt a flutter in his heart as he looked at her like this.
Suddenly, he pulled Liu Shiyu towards the main house of the princess's residence, saying, "Your Highness, aren't you going to change your clothes? I'll accompany you."
"Huh? That's not a good idea. Just wait for me in the courtyard." Liu Shiyu hadn't quite figured out what was going on when she was pulled to Yihezhai.
Unfortunately, he's just a big talker. He's still just a big talker.
Xu Luchuan calmed down in front of Yihezhai and stopped in his tracks from entering Liu Shiyu's boudoir. Looking at Liu Shiyu's stunned expression as she turned around, he simply smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Go in, I'll wait for you outside. Take your time changing, no rush."
Seeing this, Liu Shiyu nodded obediently and stepped into the house.
She closed the door with a forced smile. Once her back was against the door, Liu Shiyu suddenly slumped back, her face clearly showing she was on the verge of tears.
She thought…
He accompanied me while I changed clothes, and he really did! Our Little Green is truly a gentleman...
Xu Luchuan stood outside the door, looking at the closed wooden door. He then turned around and rested his hand on his chin.
He thought…
Why not tell my father about the marriage now and have him propose to the emperor immediately? The marriage can be arranged in a few days, saving me from this agonizing wait.
Thinking of this, Xu Luchuan felt as if he were engulfed in flames, his whole body brimming with inexhaustible energy.
After a while, Liu Shiyu emerged from Yihezhai, dressed in a simple, elegant outfit. She lightly took Xu Luchuan's arm and said with a smile, "Let's go, Xiao Lü, let's go eat!"
Xu Luchuan smiled at her, and the two of them, all lovey-dovey, prepared to head to the backyard.
Unexpectedly, Le Xin rushed over. Upon seeing them from afar, Le Xin quickly approached, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Highness, someone from the palace has arrived. His Majesty summons you and Young Master Xu to the palace immediately."
Liu Shiyu and Xu Luchuan looked at each other, puzzled.
"His Majesty summoned me too?" Xu Luchuan asked, puzzled. Le Xin replied, "Yes, His Majesty's carriage is already waiting outside the door."
Xu Luchuan was surprised, but Liu Shiyu only felt dejected; all she could think about was the roasted meat she had missed for so long. Turning to look at the pitiful, dejected woman beside him, Xu Luchuan seemed to have guessed her temperament and gently comforted her, "Alright, it's not too late to eat the roasted meat later. His Majesty must have something to discuss with you. Let's go."
"All right."
Liu Shiyu then nestled beside Xu Luchuan and walked with him out of the princess's residence.
…
Upon arriving outside the mansion gate, Xu Luchuan looked around at the scene before him and couldn't help but ask, "Lord Attendant, His Majesty only sent one carriage?"
“Yes,” Zhao Feng replied, his eyes lowered.
Liu Shiyu stood outside the mansion gate, glancing at the carriage and then at Xu Luchuan. She hadn't expected her imperial brother to be so shrewd. She winked at Xu Luchuan and said, "What's wrong with a carriage? Right Supervisor, haven't you ever ridden in a carriage with me before?"
"Times change."
Xu Luchuan felt that things were fine between him and Liu Shiyu when they were in the shadows, but now that everything was out in the open, he had to consider the reputation of the Xu family and Liu Shiyu. But Liu Shiyu didn't think so. She just grabbed Xu Luchuan's arm and tried to get into the car and leave.
"But His Majesty only sent one carriage! You should ride with me, so as not to delay our journey to the palace."
"Your Majesty, you will be punished!"
Xu Luchuan smiled and shook his head. He couldn't possibly disobey the dignified Princess Protector of the Nation, so he could only obediently help the person onto the carriage himself. Seeing the two board, Zhao Feng immediately called out from outside, "Let's go!"
The carriage then headed towards the Wanshe Palace.
…
Outside Wanshe Palace, the carriage stopped.
Liu Shiyu slowly sat up from Xu Luchuan's shoulder; she was now just like the sword on Xu Luchuan's body, never leaving his side.
Xu Luchuan was the same, as could be seen from his ever-doting gaze.
The two disembarked from the carriage at a leisurely pace. Zhao Feng, as usual, prepared a palanquin for Liu Shiyu. However, Liu Shiyu shook her head and walked alone towards the palace gate. Standing under the palace gate, she suddenly turned around and looked at Xu Luchuan approaching gracefully behind her.
"Why don't you ride in the palanquin?" Xu Luchuan asked. Liu Shiyu smiled brightly and extended her slender right hand to him, "Your Highness, lead me."
Xu Luchuan looked very surprised upon hearing this.
That look of astonishment and delight seemed to say, "Liu Shiyu, this is the imperial palace. What do you want to do?"
Liu Shiyu waved her hand urging, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up!"
Seeing that Xu Luchuan was still standing there in a daze, Liu Shiyu withdrew her hand and rubbed it against her eyelids twice, pretending to be aggrieved and sobbing, "We've only been reunited for half a day. Is my lord already tired of me? He won't even hold my hand anymore?"
Liu Shiyu's shyness vanished in an instant, and her rascally demeanor returned.
Now she really doesn't hide anything anymore.
Xu Luchuan subconsciously turned his head to look, and the surprised looks on the faces of the people around him made him immediately take Liu Shiyu's hand and walk into the palace gate.
Liu Shiyu, I'm truly terrified of you! I'll be terrified of you for the rest of my life!
Liu Shiyu beamed, while Xu Luchuan seemed lost in thought. "Perhaps I should just ask His Majesty for a marriage decree later? After this diplomatic mission, His Majesty shouldn't hold any grudge against me anymore, right? If that's the case, I won't have to go through all that trouble with that stubborn old man at home!"
Yeah, why didn't I think of that sooner?
Xu Luchuan glanced back at Liu Shiyu with a smug look, leaving Liu Shiyu bewildered by his gaze.
What are you doing?!
Are you so bothered by asking me to hold your hand? Are you plotting something again?
Thinking of this, Liu Shiyu squeezed Xu Luchuan's hand tightly. Seeing this, Xu Luchuan loosened his grip on her palm and boldly intertwined his fingers with hers.
He had figured it out; he would openly and honestly request His Majesty to grant him a marriage.
Liu Shiyu walked side by side with Xu Luchuan. Although she didn't know what Xu Luchuan was thinking, she felt unusually at ease.
The two walked along the palace path, past the square in front of Fenghua Hall, and up the long steps. But when they looked up again, they were surprised to find Xu Qinguo and Tang Wuzheng exchanging pleasantries outside the hall. Liu Shiyu instinctively tried to pull her hand away from Xu Luchuan's tight grip, afraid of causing him trouble. But Xu Luchuan held on tightly, refusing to let go.
“Little Green…” Liu Shiyu spoke softly. Xu Luchuan looked at her and smiled, “I’m going to marry you, so I won’t have to fear any of this. Let’s go.”
After Xu Luchuan finished speaking, he took Liu Shiyu's hand and let go of her hand only when they reached the front of the hall, under the watchful eyes of Tang Wuzheng and Xu Qinguo.
"General, Father," Xu Luchuan greeted with a cupped hand.
Tang Wuzheng and Xu Qinguo also asked, "Your Highness."
“Uncle, Master Xu.” Liu Shiyu nodded in acknowledgment. Xu Qinguo gave Xu Luchuan a meaningful look after she finished speaking, but did not criticize him too much. However, Tang Wuzheng seemed unconcerned. He felt that the second son of the Taichang family was more than a match for the eldest princess of Shaoyuan.
Moreover, after this upheaval in Shaoyuan, the political landscape in the court is likely to change as well.
"Alright, alright, don't be so polite." Seeing everyone standing there awkwardly, Tang Wuzheng quickly spoke up to ease the tension. "His Majesty is hosting a family banquet today to welcome our Right Supervisor Xu. Let's not stand outside the hall any longer, let's go inside quickly. Don't keep His Majesty waiting."
After Tang Wuzheng finished speaking, he raised his hand and invited Xu Qinguo into the hall.
"A family banquet? A welcome feast? The emperor summoned us here just to eat? But I still crave roasted pork..."
After everyone left, Liu Shiyu stood outside the hall and pursed her lips. Xu Luchuan, however, stared at Fenghua Hall with shining eyes.
He raised his hand and shook the absent-minded Liu Shiyu frantically, saying, "Ayu, did you hear that? This is a family banquet, a family banquet to welcome me back."
Liu Shiyu turned to look at Xu Luchuan, shook her dizzy head, and replied solemnly, "I heard it! Xiao Lü, I heard it with both ears."
But... I really want to eat roasted pork...
[Author's Note]
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 21:32:52 on January 15, 2023 and 17:08:52 on January 17, 2023!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Achilles 5 bottles;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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