Gu Helian’s words stirred a storm of resentment. Xiao Yan suppressed his irritation, but his footsteps still landed heavily, as if he might shatter the bricks beneath him.
*This fat sheep can’t be fleeced…*
*Can’t rob him…*
*Can’t… to hell with it!*
Xiao Yan’s face was expressionless. “I could hear you all talking about gold from a mile away. Does Master Gu know I’m short on silver and plan to generously open his purse?”
“Dream on!”
Seeing Xiao Yan enter, Gu Helian rolled his eyes. “The sun’s still up.”
*What kind of pipe dream is this?!*
Xiao Yan glanced at the guarded, nouveau riche-like figure and said calmly, “The other day, Aunt asked me about whether she should go to Zuozhou. She seemed quite hesitant. Well, she’s been in the capital for years, and Zuozhou, though prosperous, is rather remote. I suppose I won’t persuade her…”
His arm was suddenly grabbed, and Gu Helian’s smile turned warm and friendly. “Oh, come now, what I meant was that it’s still broad daylight. With so many eyes on Jiyun Lane, it wouldn’t look good if people saw me sending things over.”
“Later, when it’s dark, I’ll have Mufeng bring a few boxes of gold for you. Consider it a gift from your uncle.”
Mufeng: “…”
*Master, can you have a shred of dignity?!*
The corners of Cao Dejiang’s and the others’ mouths twitched, while Tangning and Xue Ru exchanged looks of exasperation.
As Gu Helian latched onto Xiao Yan to ask about Rong Yue’s plans for Zuozhou, Cao Dejiang couldn’t help but mutter, “Has Master Gu always been like this?”
Tangning paused, mindful that this was, after all, her future uncle. She needed to save him some face, so she pretended not to hear and forced a smile to change the subject. “Lord Cao, General Fu, what brings you here?”
She then turned to Di Tao. “I heard from my brother that Young General Di was injured. How are you? Has the injury healed?”
Di Tao’s gaze instinctively flicked to Xue Ru, who stood quietly, her expression neutral, showing no trace of concern.
He felt a pang of disappointment, but it quickly faded as he regained his spirits. Patting his chest, he grinned brightly, showing his teeth. “Thank you for your concern, Princess. It was just a minor injury. After all this time, it’s long healed. But congratulations to you!”
Tangning blinked, confused. “Congratulations for what?”
Di Tao asked, “Didn’t the Ji Wang send you a congratulatory gift? You don’t know yet?”
Seeing Tangning’s bewildered look, Cao Dejiang smiled and explained, “His Majesty woke today and summoned the court officials to the palace. Not only did he agree to clear the He family’s name and posthumously confer the title of Duke Dingguo on He Wenzhuo, allowing Xiao Yan to inherit the title, but he also granted a marriage between you and Xiao Yan.”
“Though the imperial edict for the marriage hasn’t been issued yet, the court likely already knows. It’s not just the Ji Wang, others sending gifts are probably on their way. By tomorrow, Jiyun Lane will likely be packed with people coming to offer congratulations.”
Upon hearing about the marriage edict, Xue Ru’s face lit up with joy. She knew her elder sister’s good fortune was near.
Tangning was momentarily stunned. When she looked up at Xiao Yan, he had shaken off the clingy Gu Helian and approached her.
“I originally planned to ask the Crown Prince to grant the marriage, but since His Majesty has spoken, that’s even better. The edict for the marriage should arrive with the conferment edict. Later, we’ll visit Aunt to discuss the wedding and have the Imperial Observatory choose an auspicious date.”
He wanted nothing more than to marry Tangning immediately, but he also wanted to give his little lady the very best.
What others had, she would have. What others didn’t have, she would have too.
Xiao Yan’s voice was gentle, his eyes warm with a smile.
Tangning, thin-skinned as she was, blushed slightly at discussing their marriage in front of others. Seeing the teasing looks from Cao Dejiang and the others, she murmured, “Let’s talk about this later. Brother, you discuss matters with Lord Cao and the others. I’ll go sort out the things from the Ji Wang Mansion.”
Xiao Yan’s lips curved. “Go ahead.”
Watching Tangning pull Xue Ru away in a hurry, her back tinged with shy haste, Cao Dejiang teased, “She’s still a young lady, not as thick-skinned as you.”
“My thanks for Lord Cao’s praise.”
Xiao Yan laughed lightly, unperturbed, and gestured forward. “Lord Cao, General Fu, please, come inside.”
Cao Dejiang and Fu Yue entered the hall with smiles, followed by Xiao Yan and Di Tao. Canglang, lagging a step behind, grabbed Hua Wu, who was about to follow Tangning to count the boxes. “Little Flower, go fetch some tea.”
Hua Wu glared at him. “You’re the Little Flower!”
*What a terrible nickname!*
Her lady had said her name symbolized flourishing greenery and abundant autumn, wishing her to thrive like wild grass and bloom like spring flowers. But in Canglang’s mouth, it turned into roadside dogtail grass.
Canglang leaned closer, grinning. “Little Flower sounds nice, cute and catchy… Ouch!”
His foot was stomped hard, and Hua Wu ground her heel down with force. “Who wants to be cute with you?!”
The little maid glared at him, her hair bells jingling as she turned and stormed off.
Canglang clutched his foot, hopping in place and sucking in a sharp breath. “That brat, she’s trying to kill me…”
He reached to lean on Mufeng’s shoulder for support, but Mufeng shrugged him off, nearly sending Canglang face-first into the ground.
Without so much as a glance, Mufeng strode past him. He was already fed up serving his master, who was obsessed with Lady Rong, practically ready to pack up and marry into the Rong family to warm their bed.
*Anyone who doesn’t offer gold and dares to flaunt affection, stay the hell away from me!*
…
The items from the Ji Wang Mansion looked chaotic but were quickly sorted with the accompanying gift list.
Through the hall door, Xiao Yan could see Tangning outside directing servants to move the boxes, while Xue Ru had someone bring over an account book to record everything.
Gu Helian, seated opposite, noticed Xiao Yan’s constant glances toward the courtyard and couldn’t help but snipe, “Stop staring. You’re getting married, aren’t you? In a few days, you’ll have her in your house.”
*Little Tangning is getting married, and I still haven’t secured my own status.*
Gu Helian gave Xiao Yan a resentful look, his eyes practically red with jealousy.
Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze, ignoring Gu Helian’s sour remarks. After refilling tea for Cao Dejiang and the others, he said, “General Fu, you came today to discuss returning to the northwest?”
Fu Yue nodded. “Emperor An summoned me and Old Guo today, asking about Shang Qin and the Dragon Court Guards. He probed indirectly about the late emperor, but I brushed it off. Still, I suspect he’s growing suspicious.”
He didn’t mention the Dragon Jade Token directly, but everyone present knew what Emperor An was suspicious of.
Though Yu Yanfeng had helped cover up the events at the palace gate, the guards who overheard Xiao Yan’s conversation with Shang Qin and others near the gate were either killed in the explosion at the Jinshui Bridge or silenced. But Shang Qin’s sudden return to the capital with troops, conveniently arriving to “protect the emperor” during Xiao Yan’s palace coup, Emperor An wasn’t a fool. How could he not suspect collusion between Shang Qin and Xiao Yan, or fail to see Shang Qin’s last-minute betrayal?
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You can read ahead to chapterr 770 (100+ extra chapters) here
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