My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 70

Chapter 70: Favor

Xu Zhizhou swallowed. He lowered his head, not daring to look up again, and carefully peeled a shrimp to eat.

His family had no mines, so he wouldn’t be beheaded. It should be fine if he just ate quietly.

Xie Cang sat upright. Xu Zhici sat honestly, not daring to make any other movements. The scene fell silent for a moment. The sound of singing and dancing came from the side. The official wives and husbands lowered their heads, their hearts struggling.

Xiao Yurong’s lips curved into a smile. He unhurriedly took a wine cup and took a sip of tea. Xu Zhizhou secretly glanced at the Phoenix Lord and only saw his fair, slender, and pampered hands.

Just by looking at his hands and listening to his voice, you could tell he was a great beauty. After Xu Zhizhou had come to the capital, he had heard that the Phoenix Lord was renowned throughout the city and was the most noble person in the world.

A few of the ladies and husbands had compromised. For those who hadn’t, Xiao Yurong had Xiping write down their names.

Xu Zhizhou finished the shrimp on the table. The dipping sauce was also delicious. There was also a plate of stir-fried meat and a very small bowl of rice. At such a banquet, you didn’t eat rice, but dishes.

The table in front of him was full of all sorts of dishes, each in a small bowl.

After wiping his hands, Xu Zhizhou continued to eat. He squinted his eyes, enjoying it.

The wine here was also a sweet wine. It had a hint of alcohol, but it was more sweet and not intoxicating at all.

After Xiao Yurong had finished his business, he didn’t want to stay here any longer, but then he thought of something and didn’t move.

At this time, in the Xiao residence, he still had to give his father face.

He casually scanned the ladies and husbands below, as well as a few of the charming young girls and ge’ers who were by their mothers’ side.

As soon as Xiao Yurong’s gaze fell on the young girls and ge’ers, they became much more reserved.

The Phoenix Lord was jealous, and His Majesty had left the harem empty due to the Xiao clan’s power. They all knew this. Now, being glanced at by the Phoenix Lord, they were terrified.

Xiao Yurong looked down on them. Seeing their pretentious appearance, he looked away with disinterest.

Their looks, family background, and talent are all inferior to mine. How could they think that I would make a move on them? It’s ridiculous.

He saw Xu Zhizhou take a shrimp from Xu Zhici’s table and eat it with relish. He scanned the room and saw that only this person was relatively relaxed. He didn’t look like someone from the capital. Could he be a newly promoted official, or a new husband of some noble?

This time, for the birthday celebration at the Xiao residence, no one would be so tactless as to bring a concubine.

Xiao Yurong reached out and pointed at Xu Zhizhou. “I have never seen this young master before. Which family are you from?”

Xie Cang immediately said in a low voice, “Kneel down quickly.”

Hearing this, Xu Zhizhou was quite honest and knelt down. He was afraid of being beheaded.

He answered honestly, “This servant’s husband is the junior sixth-rank compiler, Song Changxu.”

Xiao Yurong hadn’t expected to have chosen the new top scorer’s husband. He smiled and said, “Get up and sit. You’re treating me like a flood or a fierce beast. I’m generally very reasonable.”

Xu Zhizhou sat upright in his seat, not daring to eat anymore, trembling with fear.

Xiao Yurong thought of the conversation he had heard between Song Changxu and Laifu in the Panlong Hall. He had heard that the two of them were a young couple who had supported each other all the way to now.

He had seen Song Changxu, and he was not inferior to the sons of large families at all. The husband of such a person was good-looking and seemed very lively.

He was a little curious for a moment, and naturally he asked, “I’ve heard that you and the top scorer came to the capital together from the village. I’m a little curious. Was your marriage arranged by your parents, or was it mutual affection?”

Xu Zhizhou hadn’t expected the Phoenix Lord to be interested in such a thing, but he still answered honestly, “It was the parents’ order and the matchmaker’s words. My husband and I were both still young then and didn’t know the taste of love. Only after we were together did we stumble our way to now. I have a bad temper, and my husband is very tolerant.”

If he wasn’t tolerant, he would complain.

Xiao Yurong did not interrupt him, but looked at him in a daze.

Since the Phoenix Lord did not say to stop, he had to say a little more.

“We were in the village at first. Later, my husband passed the exam to become a xiucai, and we went to the county. My husband studied, and I set up a stall outside to earn money. There were also times of conflict, but we both took a step back, and life went on like that. Later, we came to the capital.”

Xu Zhizhou recalled the time when Song Changxu had hidden his private money and had made him cry with anger. It seemed to have been a long time ago.

He was reluctant to be separated from Song Changxu, and reluctant to have a conflict with him.

The other ladies and husbands had never paid attention to Xu Zhizhou before, but now they had a different feeling when they looked at him.

Xiao Yurong smiled faintly. “You and Sir Song are indeed in love. It has not been an easy journey. Come forward.”

Xu Zhizhou came forward, trembling.

Xiao Yurong: “Come closer to me.”

Xu Zhizhou came closer and finally saw Xiao Yurong’s face clearly. He was so beautiful, but not in a fragile way. Instead, he had a graceful and sharp beauty.

He smiled faintly, like a demon from a storybook Xu Zhizhou had read, unrealistically beautiful.

He took Xu Zhizhou’s hand and saw the thin calluses on it, and the fine scars on the back of his hand. Making Bobo Chicken always required washing vegetables and dishes, which was hard on the hands. Doing farm work at home would also leave marks on the hands.

Xiao Yurong put down his hand. “Truly a couple who has gone through thick and thin.”

He took a clear green jade pendant from his waist. “I bestow this jade pendant upon you. His Majesty values Sir Song, and I am also moved by your feelings. I hope you will live a good life in the future.”

Xu Zhizhou was a little dazed, his eyes wide. He took the jade pendant from Xiao Yurong and had not yet come back to his senses.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Xu Zhizhou said, lowering his head.

Xiao Yurong nodded demurely and waved his hand to dismiss him.

When Xu Zhizhou returned to his seat, there were more prying gazes around him, with fear, curiosity, and envy…

He held the jade pendant, not daring to look at it again, and put it in his sleeve.

Xie Cang said in a low voice, “Zhizhou, you’ve really stood out this time. His Highness has personally given you face. In the future, in the circle, you’ll have a stepping stone.”

Xu Zhizhou straightened his back. “His Highness is good-looking. I didn’t expect him to be so nice.”

Xie Cang smiled without speaking. His Highness was not an easy person to get along with, whether in the boudoir or now in the Fengyang Palace.

As for why His Highness was paying some attention to Xu Zhizhou, Xie Cang guessed that it must be that Sir Song had done something in the palace that had attracted his attention.

Xie Cang took a sip of his teacup.

Xu Zhizhou was carefree. He had now returned to his previous state and was eating with satisfaction, even recommending dishes to Xu Zhici.

Xie Cang sometimes felt that he thought too much. It was good to be like Zhizhou. He smiled and lowered his head to enjoy the delicious food.

After Emperor Pingjing and Xiao Yurong had left, the atmosphere of the entire banquet relaxed. The court ministers and their families all let loose, and they could talk loudly and drink heartily.

With the emperor and empress present, they had to be on their best behavior and constantly guess their thoughts.

Song Changxu had had several cups of wine, but he was not yet drunk. He had a good rapport with the director of the Ministry of Personnel, Su, and the two of them had a pleasant conversation.

After the banquet, Song Changxu found Xu Zhizhou. Many people were talking to him. Song Changxu stood on the side and nodded politely.

The two of them went back together.

Song Changxu’s gaze was surprised. “What’s going on? How did you get on such good terms with them?”

Xu Zhizhou had never lowered his head in front of Song Changxu. He tilted his chin up. “I’m good-looking and have a good temper. They all like me.”

Song Changxu didn’t believe it. Zhizhou couldn’t keep a secret. He would surely say it himself later.

Xu Zhizhou took out a jade pendant from his sleeve. In the dim night, it still emitted a gentle luster.

Song Changxu: “?”

“Where did this come from?”

Xu Zhizhou said with a smile, “This was a gift from His Highness. He also said that he hopes we will live a good life. His Highness is good-looking and very generous.”

“I said someone would give me a jade pendant. You didn’t believe me. Are you dumbfounded now?” Xu Zhizhou said proudly.

Song Changxu’s mind raced, but he still said with a smile, “It seems that heaven is looking after you.”

Xu Zhizhou held Song Changxu’s arm. “Heaven is looking after me, so I have such a good husband.”

His mouth is too sweet. Song Changxu wanted to shut him up again.

Xu Zhizhou wore the jade pendant and couldn’t stop looking at it. It was clear that it was valuable. He didn’t dare to sell it and would keep it as a family heirloom in the future.

At General Xiao’s banquet, Xu Zhizhou had met some people, but the most impressive were the food and the Phoenix Lord.

“Husband, I’m going to open the shop tomorrow. You have to do your job well in the palace. I think His Majesty and the Phoenix Lord are both good people.”

Song Changxu: “I know.”

The next day, Song Changxu went to the National History Academy with Shen Liang to tidy it up. Emperor Pingjing had dealt with the mines. Today, he had reprimanded the Marquis of Yun a few times and had made him lose face.

The Marquis of Yun felt that it was inexplicable. For the next few days, he had been made to lose face by His Majesty and had even lost his job before his husband had told him about the Xiao family’s birthday.

The Marquis of Yun slapped his thigh. “You fool, you’re trying to harm me!”

After the Marquis of Yun had learned the reason, he immediately expressed his loyalty to Emperor Pingjing. The mining tax was just a small piece of meat for them. Although it was a bit painful, it was not a big deal. If it could make the emperor stop for a while, they were willing to cut the meat.

Besides, the Xiao family had already cut their meat. If they, the nobles, didn’t, His Majesty would not let them go.

As expected, Emperor Pingjing did not mention the Marquis of Yun’s matter again in the future, but the job he had lost could not be recovered.

In the officialdom, a husband and wife were one. If the family members did not understand the ways of the world, they would sooner or later drag their husbands down.

Emperor Pingjing had taken back the mining tax, and his heart was at ease.

“Minister Xie, I have transferred you from the local area to the position of Minister of Revenue. You must not disappoint me,” Emperor Pingjing said, teasing the parrot in the cage, his tone light.

Xie Yiyuan: “I understand, Your Majesty. I will not disappoint you.”

“Keep a close eye on the salt and iron. If anyone’s hand reaches for it, you must report it to me. I will deal with them. Those who are insatiably greedy must suffer a little to know what they cannot touch,” Emperor Pingjing said, his eyes filled with killing intent.

Xie Yiyuan’s heart tightened. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Pingjing waved his hand to dismiss Xie Yiyuan, who understood.

Xie Yiyuan was a governor who had been recalled to be the Minister of Revenue. He had no foundation in the court and could only rely on the emperor.

This time, after His Majesty had ascended the throne, he had shown his true colors. He had a premonition that the mining tax was just the beginning.

When Xie Yiyuan returned to the Ministry of Revenue, he had someone take care of the matter of registering the mines.

Vice Minister Yun said, “Sir Xie, the Ministry of Revenue is short of manpower. We need to borrow some people.”

Xie Yiyuan wrote a secondment order. “Take this to the Hanlin Academy and find a few people to help.”

The Hanlin Academy was a clean yamen. When the six ministries were too busy, they would borrow people from them.

This time, Vice Minister Yun went to the Hanlin Academy and took three Hanlin academicians, as well as Song Changxu and Shen Liang.

The Ministry of Revenue was powerful. To have taken the top scorer and the second-place graduate at once, the Hanlin Academy had nothing to say.

***

Author’s Note:

Little Song: The Ministry of Revenue. [Sunglasses]

Little Xu: Making money. [Pats head]