My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 82

Chapter 82: Winter Has Arrived

Xiao Ding’s eyes grew hot. Was he really willing to give up such a great future? Not entirely, but the current situation did not allow him to be reluctant. He could only do what he thought was right.

He was content with the final outcome. But this small bit of unwillingness and reluctance in his heart, after being seen by the emperor, Xiao Ding rarely felt a little wronged.

It was as if the emperor said he was wronged, then he was wronged. If the emperor said he was not, then he would grit his teeth and swallow his bitterness.

The emperor was not just a young man in his twenties. He was the sovereign of the world, in charge of ten thousand chariots.

Xiao Ding sat on the side, his head lowered, and said, “I am not wronged.”

For some reason, Emperor Pingjing sneered when he heard Xiao Ding call himself “commoner.”

“Minister Xiao,” Emperor Pingjing said, raising his cup. “I wish you a safe journey.”

Xiao Ding quickly took his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Emperor Pingjing sighed. “You are too young, Minister Xiao.”

Xiao Ding felt as if his heart were soaking in hot water. He said in a muffled voice, “I am almost thirty. I am not young.”

Emperor Pingjing thought of Liu Wangsheng, who was still debating with the scholars in the court at the age of sixty. He smiled at Xiao Ding’s face again.

“Go. I will not see you off.”

Xiao Ding hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, “If the Xiao family makes a mistake in the future, I hope Your Majesty will be lenient.”

Emperor Pingjing’s gaze fell on Xiao Ding without emotion. A patch of Xiao Ding’s back was wet. After a long time, Emperor Pingjing said, “You should go, Minister Xiao.”

The emperor did not answer him.

Xiao Ding could not say any more. He greeted Emperor Pingjing, left the pavilion, and led the Xiao family’s carriage slowly on the official road.

Laifu greeted Xiao Ding and went to find Emperor Pingjing. Finally, he said, “Take care, Sir Xiao. The future is still unknown.”

“Thank you, eunuch.”

Laifu rode away.

Emperor Pingjing watched the Xiao family’s carriage go far away. Laifu dismounted. On the other side, there were also imperial guards. When the emperor traveled, there had to be someone protecting him in the dark.

This time, after Xiao Ding had left, he would not be seen for a long time.

“Let’s go back to the palace,” Emperor Pingjing said lightly.

The younger generation of the Xiao family had all left overnight. A month later, Xiao An at the border proposed to resign and go home. Emperor Pingjing was hesitant. Under the persuasion of Xie Yiyuan, Liu Wangsheng, and the imperial princes, he allowed Xiao An to resign and go home.

From then on, not a single member of the younger generation of the Xiao family held a position in the court. The military power at the border was all in Emperor Pingjing’s hands.

Those who were attached to the Xiao family sensed the wind in the court and all avoided the Xiao family like the plague, scattering like birds and beasts.

Emperor Pingjing’s reckoning had not yet come. Some of the court ministers were fence-sitters. They had turned against their masters and had sent the evidence of the Xiao family’s crimes to the imperial study. Emperor Pingjing held back and did not act.

.

Song Changxu held his teacup and took a sip of hot tea, feeling very pleased. On his lap was the bed warmer Xu Zhizhou had stuffed into his hands this morning.

His official position was too low, and he did not have his own office. He was with the clerks. There were charcoal braziers in the four corners of the room, but there was only a little warmth. The windows had to be opened a little, so this warmth was negligible.

The bed warmer was more practical.

Song Changxu shrunk his neck and dealt with his official duties. The summer was hot and made one sleepy. The winter was cold and made one sleepy. He drank another mouthful of goji berry tea to stay alive.

“Sir Song, these need your review.”

Song Changxu looked at the pile of documents on his desk and felt a faint sense of death. He answered and started to review. Because the younger generation of the Xiao family had resigned, and many people had seen the situation and had run away, the Ministry of Personnel was relatively busy.

With the year-end performance evaluation, he was dizzy with work.

As expected, every department was busy at the end of the year. He saw the people from the Ministry of Revenue in the dining hall. They all looked dead, without their previous arrogance.

In the past, when the officials of the Ministry of Revenue were in the dining hall, you could tell from their high chins that they were from the Ministry of Revenue.

Song Changxu saw that there was Kung Pao Chicken today. He was overjoyed. He got a large bowl and also a bowl of hot tofu soup.

The dining hall was full of people and was very hot. Song Changxu drank a mouthful of tofu soup and also had some potato shreds.

Pei Shengrong’s appetite also returned just from watching Song Changxu eat.

“Brother Song, can I have a taste of your Kung Pao Chicken?”

Song Changxu said generously, “You can have whatever you want.”

Pei Shengrong didn’t know why, but the food from other people’s plates seemed to be more fragrant. He had a little more rice today.

Song Changxu saw that he had only eaten half a bowl of rice. “You’re eating too little, Brother Pei.”

Song Changxu quickly finished his rice and went to get another bowl. In the winter, it was good to dissipate heat and protect the body, so he had to eat more. The cooks in the dining hall were imperial cooks, and the food was quite delicious.

The menu was rotated every five days. What more could he ask for?

Song Changxu loved the food in the dining hall.

He was halfway through his meal when someone stood in front of him. He looked like an unfamiliar official, about thirty years old, with a very plain and generous appearance.

Tong Yangyu smiled. “Can I sit here, Sir Song?”

Song Changxu: “Sit.”

Tong Yangyu had gone to the Ministry of Justice as a director, which was the same rank as Song Changxu. When he had come to the capital and had learned about the matter in the Ministry of Personnel, he was very grateful to Song Changxu. This time, he had found an opportunity to come and thank him.

“Thank you for your recommendation, Sir Song. Otherwise, I don’t know how many years it would have taken for me to be promoted in the county town.”

Song Changxu did not recognize him. “You are…”

Tong Yangyu thought that he had not yet introduced himself. “My name is Tong Yangyu. Do you have any impression of me, Sir Song?”

Song Changxu remembered. “So it’s Sir Tong. Your resume is very good. I just presented it to my superior. It was my superior who had a good eye.”

Tong Yangyu still remembered Song Changxu’s kindness. They exchanged addresses.

When they walked out of the dining hall, Song Changxu walked along the corridor back to the Ministry of Personnel, shaking off the snowflakes that had unconsciously fallen on him.

At the end of the year, some people resigned, and some were old and went home to retire, leaving many positions vacant.

The selection or promotion of officials had to be based on the four categories and eight methods. The four categories were integrity, administration, talent, and age, and were divided into three grades: competent, diligent, and serving.

The eight methods were greed, cruelty, inaction, carelessness, old age, illness, frivolity, and weakness.

Song Changxu had gotten a few official positions and could recommend people from the Shuchang Hall. He saw that the Shuchang Hall had recommended a few people: Bai Shu, Xie Feng, Luo Shuang, and Cheng Maoxue.

According to their resumes, Song Changxu recommended Bai Shu and Xie Feng. There were also two positions for observation, which he gave to Luo Shuang and Cheng Maoxue.

This time, the observation was all at the Ministry of Revenue, because the Ministry of Revenue was very busy at the end of the year. He would see if the two of them could seize the opportunity.

Song Changxu also had to look at the political achievements of the local officials. It was almost time to leave. His superior did not rush him, so Song Changxu was not in a hurry to finish the documents. He took his umbrella and left first.

He saw some pastries outside. Song Changxu bought some water chestnut cakes and date cakes, as well as some goji berries, and also went to the pharmacy to buy a medicinal packet for soaking his feet.

It was getting cold in the winter. He had to drink more goji berry tea and soak his feet more to keep warm. The family did not have a carriage yet. Song Changxu relied on his legs to go to and from work. He was still happy and at ease.

When he returned home, the family had bought two more servants, one for cleaning and the other for cooking.

The sugar workshop and the Bobo Chicken shop were doing well. Xu Zhizhou could look at the account books leisurely. He did not ask for great wealth and honor. With one or two shops, and his husband having some status and being handsome, this was already a very good life.

He did not see Xu Zhizhou in the main hall. Song Changxu knew that he must be hiding in the inner room, warming himself by the fire. As soon as he pushed open the door, he saw Xu Zhizhou lying on a soft couch, checking the account books.

“You’re back, husband. Xingwen has just made some fruit tea. I think it tastes good. We can use it in the Bobo Chicken shop.”

Song Changxu placed the pastries on the table.

Xu Zhizhou unwrapped the oil-paper package and ate a little of the pastry. The pastries in the shop were more refreshing. There was still an empty space in the courtyard. Some places had already been planted with flowers and plants. Xu Zhizhou liked to eat winter melons in the summer. He still wanted to buy some good seeds in the spring and plant some at home. When he wanted to eat, he could just pick one.

He could do whatever he wanted in his own courtyard. He would not lead the guests to the main courtyard.

Xu Zhizhou said, “Elder Brother has also opened a noodle shop. I went to the shop this morning and saw that it was doing well. Many people were eating noodles.”

Song Changxu: “Didn’t you say you were going to open a teahouse? How did it become a noodle shop?”

“I heard from my elder brother that it was Master Wu’s suggestion. My brother-in-law listens to him very much and has even brought him to the capital. I think so too. There are enough teahouses in the capital. In the winter, many people drink tea. A noodle shop has business all year round.”

Song Changxu knew of Wu Yi. He said, “It’s good that my elder brother and brother-in-law have a plan.”

He took a sip of the fruit tea. It did have some flavor.

Now that Xu Zhizhou was a boss, his life had become more leisurely. He had bought many decorations for the house, had also arranged the east and west wings, and had replaced the floor of the corridor.

He had left a small room by the side of the main courtyard. In the future, if they had children, they could live there.

“Now that we’ve moved into a new house, our luck has also come, hasn’t it? The two shops can earn two or three hundred silver a month. Thanks to His Majesty’s reward of gold bars, otherwise I don’t know how many years it would have taken for us to live in a new house. Although we have no savings now, our life is comfortable. I still have to save money.”

Song Changxu looked up. “I thought you were going to enjoy yourself. Why are you still thinking of saving money?”

Xu Zhizhou put down the account book. “Of course, the more silver, the better. In the future, we still have to raise children. There will be times when we need to spend money.”

At the mention of children, Song Changxu was always at a loss for words.

“We’re going to the Cheng family’s for the wedding banquet the day after tomorrow.”

For Cheng Maoxue and Yue Bai’s wedding banquet, Xu Zhizhou had already picked out a gift. It was not expensive, but it was clever.

He could not go home for the New Year this year. Otherwise, it would not be good to leave his husband alone in the capital.

At night, they had dinner. The two of them went to the night market to buy clothes. They bought some and planned to send them to Qishan Village. Xu Zhizhou picked out a few sets of clothes and asked Song Changxu for his opinion.

Song Changxu just looked with his eyes and said, “They all look good.”

Xu Zhizhou: “If you say so, you can’t say anything else. You can just take the clothes.”

The shopkeeper’s wife, who was on the side, found the conversation between the two of them quite interesting. The two of them were good-looking and looked like a young couple.

Song Changxu did not say anything.

After Xu Zhizhou had picked out the clothes, he went to look at the boots. He touched the inside and asked, “What kind of fur is used in here?”

The shopkeeper’s wife said, “There’s wool and goose feathers. This pair of boots is made of wool.”

Xu Zhizhou had Song Changxu sit down and try them on.

If he was satisfied, he would buy them. It was also fine to buy some dried goods to send home. After the two of them had bought everything, they went to the post station to send them to Qishan Village. There were not many things, and it cost ten taels of silver.

At night, the snow grew heavier. Xu Zhizhou pulled his cape and had a bowl of lamb soup with Song Changxu. It was already late when they returned home.

The two of them washed up with hot water and lay in the quilt, huddling together for warmth. In the winter, Xu Zhizhou was used to hugging Song Changxu and shrinking into his arms. Song Changxu was afraid that he would not be able to breathe in the quilt and would have to dig his head out.

“Aiya, I won’t have trouble breathing,” Xu Zhizhou glared at him.

Song Changxu kissed his lips. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to breathe.”

The two of them fooled around for a while and had to go and wash up again. Xu Zhizhou lay on Song Changxu and fell asleep.

Song Changxu touched his hand and put it in the quilt.

Time passed quickly. On the day of Cheng Maoxue and Yue Bai’s wedding, it was a rare day without snow. The Yue family’s parents had come from Jiangzhou, as well as a few of the women and ge’ers from there. Xu Zhizhou and Xie Cang followed them back to see Yue Bai.

Yue Bai’s eyes were red as he saw his parents off and got on the flower sedan. The dowry was carried on thirty poles, a grand and festive procession.

This was the second time Xu Zhizhou had seen a wedding in the capital. He was still happy. He grabbed a handful of wedding candy, stuffed a handful into Xie Cang’s hands, and said with a smile, “I’ll treat you to some candy.”

Xie Cang saw the flower sedan gradually go far away, and his heart was a bit heavy. After being stuffed with a handful of wedding candy by Xu Zhizhou, his mood improved a lot.

“You’re treating me to someone else’s candy?”

Xu Zhizhou took out a piece of fruit candy from his sleeve. “This time it’s on me, right?”

He had stuffed a few fruit candies in his sleeve when he had gone out, afraid of being bored.

Xie Cang was stunned when he got the candy.

They walked all the way from the Yue family’s to the Cheng family’s. Seeing Song Changxu and the others drinking, Xu Zhizhou looked around.

Song Changxu saw him, pulled him over, and introduced him to the wives and husbands of his colleagues at the Ministry of Personnel.

“Song Furen is so good-looking. You and Sir Song are a match made in heaven.”

Xu Zhizhou was most proud of his face. He smiled. “I think you are also very beautiful, madam. You look like you’re only sixteen.”

His mouth was too sweet. He had coaxed all the ladies and husbands until they were overjoyed.

Seeing that he was getting along well, Song Changxu went to the other side to drink with the others.

He did not drink much. After he had finished, he said a few words to his colleagues. Cheng Maoxue caught them and had them block a lot of wine.

Song Changxu couldn’t take it and had to eat some food.

Xu Zhizhou served him a bowl of fish soup. The soup was delicious. Song Changxu had a few mouthfuls, and his stomach felt much better.

“Eat more,” Xu Zhizhou served him some food.

Song Changxu answered and ate all the food in his bowl.

After the wedding banquet, they still had to play leaf cards. Song Changxu did not participate. Compared to playing leaf cards, he preferred to go back and warm himself by the fire with Xu Zhizhou.

“Sir Song, come and have a game,” someone advised.

Song Changxu shook his head. “My skills are not good. I’ll go back first.”

He left the Cheng residence with Xu Zhizhou. Song Changxu was in a good mood. He followed him back home and set up a charcoal brazier. There was snow outside. Inside, Xu Zhizhou was making fruit tea and was also on the bed with his shoes and socks on.

He was not lying on the bed all the time, but was constantly changing his posture.

Song Changxu: “?”

“What are you doing?”

Xu Zhizhou: “I’m exercising. I can’t just lie down all the time. My stomach will get fat.”

Song Changxu was speechless. He subconsciously touched his own stomach and found that his eight-pack abs had become six.

A little scared.

“It seems I also need to exercise. I can’t just sit all the time.”

Xu Zhizhou rolled his eyes at him. “It’s simple. You can just stand when you’re on duty.”

Song Changxu: “…”

There was some twisted logic to it.

It was the New Year. Xu Zhizhou was already skilled at buying New Year’s goods. It was just that this year, it was only the two of them. It was a bit unsatisfactory.

“My parents wrote back and said they don’t want to come. How can we get them to come?”

Song Changxu came up with a bad idea. “You can say you’re pregnant. Both of our parents will come back.”

Xu Zhizhou’s eyes lit up. “You’re right. You can write it, husband. When it’s exposed, you can just say that you did it on your own initiative, and it has nothing to do with me.”

Song Changxu: “Xu Zhizhou, can you have a little sense of responsibility?”

Xu Zhizhou covered his ears. “I’m not listening.”

Song Changxu had no choice but to write the letter. Xu Zhizhou came over and even gave him a few instructions.

“Make it sound miserable. Say that you’ve been vomiting all the time, can’t eat, and are extremely weak. You’re busy with the affairs of the court and have no time to take care of me, and you often don’t come home at night. I’m all alone at home.”

Song Changxu couldn’t help but look up. “If you want me to get a beating, just say it.”

Xu Zhizhou fidgeted with his fingers and patted the back of Song Changxu’s head. “What are you talking about? What bad intentions could I have? I just want my parents to come to the capital to play.”

Song Changxu was hit and became obedient.

He wrote the letter, swallowing his anger.

“That’s great. This way, we don’t have to be afraid that our parents won’t come. You’re so smart, husband,” Xu Zhizhou was overjoyed.

Song Changxu gave a fake smile. “You’re happy, but I have to take the blame.”

Xu Zhizhou kissed him. “Isn’t that good enough?”

He picked him up and put him on the bed. “How is that enough? Since we’re using pregnancy as an excuse, why don’t we work hard these few days and try to make it happen? His Majesty has given us a half-month holiday.”

Xu Zhizhou covered his face shyly. “You, in broad daylight, and you’re a scholar. You’re so shameless.”

“We’ve been married for so long. What’s there to be ashamed of?”

…

The charcoal brazier was still burning. After it had burned out, the temperature in the room did not drop, but rose instead.

Song Changxu traced Xu Zhizhou’s features. He had never seen them so clearly. It would be nice to have a child, he suddenly thought.

It would take more than two months for the letter Song Changxu had written to reach Qishan Village. Thinking of this, Song Changxu hooked a strand of Xu Zhizhou’s hair and kissed it.

…

The New Year’s goods were prepared not only by Xu Zhizhou himself, but also by an attendant. This year, they did not spend the New Year in Qishan Village, but they had their own home. However, they did not spend it at home.

Xu Zhizhou pulled Song Changxu to his elder brother’s house for the New Year. “We brothers have to spend the New Year together. Hurry and bring the things, husband.”

The Song residence was not too close to the Xie residence, but not too far either. Xu Zhizhou had given the servants at home a holiday. Only Song Changxu was carrying the things behind him.

Song Changxu was panting. “Are you treating me like an ox? So many things. If you have the heart, you can help me carry some.”

Xu Zhizhou pretended not to hear and ran away quickly.

He had no heart.

He reached the Xie residence first and knocked on the door. Xie Huaichuan came to open it.

“I’ve come to pay a New Year’s visit,” Xu Zhizhou said righteously, and walked past Xie Huaichuan into the house.

Xie Huaichuan looked behind him but did not see Song Changxu.

He only saw a small black dot slowly approaching when he walked outside the door. Xie Huaichuan helped Song Changxu to carry the things.

This little bit of things was nothing to him, who had learned martial arts.

“Come in quickly.”

Song Changxu nodded and went in to warm himself by the fire.

Xu Zhici brewed some tea and brought it over. “Have some hot tea, Changxu.”

“Thank you, Elder Brother.”

“I bought a fresh duck this morning and am braising it now. We always have chicken soup. This time, we’ll have duck soup for the New Year. My husband said that we’ve had too much big fish and meat, so we should make more vegetable dishes.”

Song Changxu: “It’s so cold. Why don’t we have a hot pot?”

Xu Zhizhou also agreed.

If their parents were here, they would definitely not allow them to do this. In their eyes, the New Year was all about preparing a table of dishes.

Now, with the four young people, they all preferred to have a hot pot.