Chapter 317 - 317-The Wind and the Grass
Xie Laosan had lost his official position, but his life was still comfortable. He had originally wanted to climb up and go to court, but now that he was free to be a king, he was drunk every day and had no official position. Although he didn’t have any face, it gave him more time to go out and have fun.
After playing with the concubines at home, he went out to play. Without the little widow who opened the restaurant, he found the courtesan in the brothel.
Day after day, he was simply too carefree.
When he had enough fun and returned to the residence, he still had to pick and choose. It seemed that if he didn’t do this, he wouldn’t show that he cared about the people in the residence. Bones could be picked out from an egg.
Ever since Madam Wang had fallen out with Third Master Xie because of Widow Cheng, she had been trying to repair their relationship. It was not good for them to remain stiff.
However, this person would often take an inch and take a mile. The more you respected him, the more he would treat you as nothing.
Madam Wang had a clear conscience when it came to Xie Zhao. She had hired the best doctor in the city, and her daily meals were carefully prepared according to the doctor’s instructions. Other than staying by the bed day and night, she did everything a mother should do.
She was already old and could not stay up late. She could not keep up with her energy. Moreover, there were so many servants in the Xie residence that it was really not her turn to serve the children.
After arguing for half a night and paying respects to Mother Xie so early in the morning, she had yet to rest.
“Not only you, I didn’t expect it either.”Mother Xie did not find fault with this matter. After all, no one would have thought that she was not thoughtful.
It was not easy to find a chef who could cook Shu cuisine in Jiankang City. After all, this did not conform to the aesthetic standards of the people of Jiankang.
Not to mention the palace, the aristocratic families and nobles also ate very little. After all, that kind of spicy food was not something that ordinary people could enjoy. Therefore, they did not think so much.
“However, since the emperor has rewarded the imperial chef, third daughter-in-law, you should worry more and arrange a special position in the big kitchen.””But that imperial physician only cares about Ning’s daily diet. No one else is allowed to trouble her.””
“Mother is right.” A few wives echoed.
This matter did not have to be polite. The imperial chef was rewarded by the emperor. She really could not do a favor. If she let him become the chef of the Xie family, where would the emperor’s face be?
She blushed in the morning. She had lost the bearing she had when she was in charge of the Xiao family for several years. She was too shy.
There was no reason for the juniors to interfere when the elders were talking. After breakfast was over in Yi An Hall, everyone dispersed. Early in the morning, Xiao Huang had sent a servant boy to the back of the manor to pass on a message, asking her to come out and meet him.
After declining Xiao Shan’s invitation to go shopping, she went to Xiao Huang’s temporary residence in the northwest corner.
The father and daughter didn’t say much when they met. Xiao Huang only asked,”Have you taken a fancy to Xin ‘an King? If you don’t like it, we’ll find someone else.”
His first goal was to find a suitable husband for his daughter, but the Emperor was the first to come over and express his feelings. It was not that he had to marry the royal family.
“I think it’s alright.” Xiao Ning nodded solemnly.”
Xiao Huang wasn’t a benevolent father who would talk about his ideals with his daughter. If his daughter said it was okay, then it was okay.
“You say, turn, turn, turn, turn, turn, turn.””Xiao Huang received the confirmation and waved his hand to dismiss his daughter. “I’ll send a message back to Yizhou right now and ask Zhong Yuan to send you the dowry.”
This was going to be a big deal.
Xiao Huang went to Jiankang to meet the emperor. Except for Xiao Ning, who was the emperor’s nod, the other three sons were thrown to Yizhou. The eldest son, Xiao Boyuan, was in charge of Yizhou and Ningzhou.
Now that the marriage between his daughter and Xin ‘an Prince had been decided, it was time for the two brothers to show their faces.
“After all, this matter hasn’t been decided yet, so it’s better not to make it too public.””
Xiao Huang didn’t care.” Who cares about him? If the Xin ‘an King doesn’t succeed, there will always be someone else who will succeed. He has to be prepared. It doesn’t matter if it’s early or late.””
Xiao Ning was speechless. Why didn’t she go to Jiankang with her as soon as possible? She wanted to let all the good men in Jiankang see that her sister also had a dowry. Do you want to take over immediately? Come, I’ll go home with you.
The father and daughter had always been unable to get along well. Xiao Huang’s temperament was too strange. He wanted to get along well with everyone else, but nothing else mattered. His ears were so hard that it made one’s hair stand on end.
Fortunately, he was a good man and did not get involved in the matters in the backyard. He let her do whatever she wanted, or else she would be aggrieved.
Xiao Huang wasn’t discussing with her. When he decided on something, others only needed to carry it out.
A letter was sent back to Yizhou.
The one who received the letter was Xiao Huang’s eldest son, Xiao Boyuan. He was the same as Xiao Huang. His appearance was so ordinary that he was confused. His deceased mother was the most beautiful in their family. Unfortunately, no one took after her. Other than their mother, Xiao Ning was the best.
Xiao Huang had already prepared a dowry for Xiao Ning and left it in the storeroom. However, Xiao Boyuan was not at ease. After all, she was going to marry Xin ‘an King. If the dowry was not enough, it would be embarrassing. Would the royal family look down on the girl?
He added another 5,000 taels of silver. Not only did he add it himself, but he also put a knife on his two younger brothers ‘necks and asked them to add it too.
The two younger brothers were about to cry. Are you asking me to add dowry or robbing me?
She cried,”We’ll add in all our assets!””
The three sons of the Xiao family were all married. The youngest, Xiao Jiyuan, was 16 years old. They also got married last year and their daughter-in-law was pregnant at the beginning of this year.
They all have the heart to dote on their sister, don’t act as if they were forced!
Their official positions were not far from Uncle Xiao, but they had quite a lot of private savings. They gritted their teeth and added an extra 2,000 taels. Each of them added 7,000 taels just to embarrass their eldest brother.
It didn’t matter if the brothers were competing to add makeup, but the sisters-in-law couldn’t sit still. It was true that they also had dowries, but they couldn’t spend all the money in the house on their sisters-in-law and eat their daughters-in-law in the future. What was going on?
After a round of pillow talk, she couldn’t stay any longer. Her father had a bad temper. If she delayed any longer, she might get her hands on her daughter-in-law’s dowry. No, if she delayed any longer, her father would get angry and think that her brothers were making excuses and not doing anything.
Xiao Boyuan knew that his father treated money like dirt. He did not care about money. He only cared if his orders were faithfully carried out. His wife and sisters-in-law were right. He had better not be ungrateful. On the third day after receiving the letter, Xiao Zhongyuan was sent on his way. Before he left, he took out another three thousand taels of silver. No matter what, he could not let his younger brother lose.
Xiao Zhongyuan cupped his fists. They couldn’t compare to their eldest brother’s strength.
Just like that, more than twenty carriages and more than two thousand soldiers set off.
The wind blew and the grass moved. The emperor blew, and the ground below moved.
Not only the Xiao family, but even the Xie family was also busy. Xie Wan was even assigned a task. Things that had not been decided were already being planned out when she married.
Xiao Ning felt inexplicably uneasy. If something went wrong and her marriage with Xin ‘an Prince didn’t go through, she would lose a lot of face.
Moreover, she felt bad for being a guest who worked for the main family..