bayedsolid Chapter 1092 The Betting Begins
Chapter 1092 The Betting Begins
After Minglang got into the carriage, he put his arm around one of them.
"Let's go."
The carriage slowly began to move.
Fei He stood there watching His Highness's carriage leave, exchanged a glance with Qin Xiao Si who turned his head, and then quickly disappeared from the spot.
Fang Yucheng, who rushed over with his men, couldn't find Xue Wan and stubbornly waited at the entrance of the restaurant.
It's just that Fei He left quickly enough; if it had been a little later, Liang Chongyue would have had a much more interesting time to watch.
Liang Chongyue's carriage stopped in front of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. The number of people waiting at the gate was about the same as this morning.
"I and my family are here to pay our respects to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty."
Liang Chongyue got off the carriage and helped her uncle up with a smile.
Seeing that her eldest uncle's eyebrows and eyes were slightly more relaxed than in the morning, it seemed that the Queen Mother had done a good job of psychological work.
"Everyone, get up."
Liang Chongyue did not see his mother and Xiang Zheng's two children in the crowd.
Presumably, the Empress Dowager is now surrounded by the Xiang family's children.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is in the front hall. The family banquet has been prepared. This way, Your Majesty."
Liang Chongyue was already familiar with the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, so she didn't need anyone to lead the way and found her way there on her own.
Upon closer inspection, the Empress Dowager was indeed surrounded by a group of children.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. Did you have a good time today?"
Everything was fine for Xiang Huayue at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, except for the unpleasant conversation she had with her elder brother when she first arrived.
But when he saw Xiang Zheng following behind His Majesty, all his unpleasantness disappeared.
"All is well, I am perfectly fine. I plan to stay at the Duke of Dingguo's residence for the night to keep this little rascal company. If Your Majesty has something to attend to tonight, you don't need to worry about me."
The little rascal the Empress Dowager was referring to was Xiang Yu, who was currently nestled in her arms, playing with her hand.
Putting everything else aside, Xiang Zheng's children are both good-looking.
"As long as Mother Empress doesn't find it troublesome, I'm fine with it."
As soon as Liang Chongyue turned her head, she saw Xiang Zheng winking at Xiang Yu, but unfortunately, the little girl's perspective was different from that of an adult.
Xiang Yu nestled in his mother's arms, dressed in bright red, looking like a festive glutinous rice ball.
"How could that be? I like all these children. The Duke of Dingguo's mansion is more lively than the palace."
Liang Chongyue sensed that her mother's words had a hidden meaning, but she ignored them, said a few more words, and then sat down.
Liang Chongyue was used to the family banquets at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.
The only interesting thing is that Xiang Zheng and Liang Chongyue sat at the same table during dinner today.
In the past, when the Duke of Dingguo's mansion was still run by men.
Xiang Zheng could only sit at the table with the women in the backyard.
Now Xiang Zheng is sitting next to Liang Chongyue, where the younger uncle used to sit.
Xiang Zheng's husband, Chai Shuo, was absent from this table; he took the child and went to the table next to it.
The spot was given to Xiang Zheng.
Liang Chongyue watched this scene without saying anything.
However, during the meal, he made sure to serve Xiang Zheng several extra dishes.
After receiving His Majesty's kind offer, Xiang Zheng ate with a smile.
She completely ignored her father's gaze, which was gesturing for her to serve food to His Majesty.
It's hilarious that His Majesty's mysophobia has become so severe that even Minglang finds it offensive.
Today I am fortunate to be able to sit here and dine with the people from the Duke's mansion.
That was all because of the Empress Dowager.
Didn't you see that His Majesty only drank wine and barely ate any food?
"Come to my place later, we'll have another meal together."
After His Majesty put down his wine cup, Xiang Zheng leaned close to his ear and whispered something.
Unfortunately, everyone at this table was trained in martial arts, and even if their hearing wasn't as good as Liang Chongyue's, it was still far superior to that of ordinary people.
Sitting at the same table, Xiang Zheng's words reached everyone's ears without missing a single one.
Xiang Zheng didn't think anything of it.
If Father had any sense, he would understand that His Majesty is the Son of Heaven. Unless the Son of Heaven himself is willing, there is no reason for the Son of Heaven and his subjects to sit at the same table and drink together.
When His Majesty first ascended the throne, his foundation was not stable, and he may have needed to rely on the power of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion to stabilize the court.
The current emperor is no longer the emperor of the past.
If the Xiang family continues to take advantage of our kindness and doesn't make any improvements, it will be a disaster.
The title of Duke Dingguo will eventually fall off.
Overall, the meal went quite well, and Liang Chongyue was pleased to see her mother enjoying the food.
She was just there to put on an act and keep everyone company.
As long as the Empress Dowager is happy with her food and comfortable in the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.
She can accept anything.
"Sheng'er, come here."
Liang Chongyue drank a few more glasses of wine that evening, and the smell of alcohol on the table was quite strong.
Liang Chongyue got up and walked outside to get some fresh air.
Suddenly, he heard someone calling Xiang Sheng.
Liang Chongyue never considered himself a virtuous gentleman; he simply stood behind the artificial hill and began to watch the spectacle.
"Cousin Ting, is there something you need?"
Xiang Sheng didn't have a very good impression of this cousin; she didn't like to talk in front of others.
He kept talking to her behind her back and asked her to pass on messages.
But even though the adults were standing right in front of her, my cousin didn't say a word.
She still has to make this trip.
After Xiang Sheng had people help him a few times, he became unwilling to continue.
"I've heard that your mother and His Majesty have a good relationship. My mother asked me to find an opportunity to speak with His Majesty. Can you help me?"
Xiang Sheng was speechless. He should have known better than to let her come out for some fresh air.
"There were many children in the front hall just now, and His Majesty questioned them all. Cousin Ting was also in the front hall just now, wasn't she?"
He couldn't seize the opportunity when it was presented to him, so now he needs her help to create one.
Xiang Sheng finally understood why his mother had said that the Duke of Dingguo's mansion was only glorious on the surface.
In fact, there has long been a shortage of qualified successors.
"I dare not..."
Xiang Sheng ignored it, only leaving a message before returning:
"If you can't seize an opportunity when it's right in front of you, you still won't be able to seize it even if it appears in front of you hundreds of times."
Liang Chongyue stood in the shadows behind the artificial hill, watching Xiang Sheng's departing figure.
The little boy is already starting to resemble Zheng in his speech and actions.
It's best not to think too deeply about it, but all these years, with her family's reputation tarnished, Xiang Zheng has poured all her heart and soul into her child.
She no longer lives a leisurely life and has begun to meddle in some of the family's affairs.
It's also about preparing for the child's future.
The Duke of Dingguo's mansion is a place of glory earned through battle, so no matter how bad the men in the family may be.
The Duke of Dingguo's mansion will do its best to support them.
But if Xiang Sheng doesn't work hard enough to let everyone see her perfection and talent...
No one in the Duke of Dingguo's mansion dared to place their hopes on her.
In the end, it might all be for someone else's benefit.
This was exactly what Xiang Zheng was wary of.
That's why she had previously encouraged Xiang Sheng to pursue a business career.
To everyone's surprise, the Xiang family soon faced a generational gap in its resources.