Chapter 272: Final Chapter Wang's Residence
Chapter 272: Return to the King's Residence
Xiao Xia was finally going to step into the Prince of Jin's residence. This time, Prince of Jin Yang Guang was hosting a dinner for some important officials of the court and their families to be guests in his house, also to celebrate his regaining of the Ministry of Revenue.
The guests invited were all important officials from the Jin Wang faction and some middle factions, such as the two prime ministers Gao Jiong and Su Wei, as well as some military figures such as Yang Xiong, Shi Wansui, and Wei Xuan.
In order to show his magnanimity, Yang Guang even invited Yuwen Shu to come as well.
Of course, Yang Guang asked his father for permission before hosting this banquet, and only after obtaining his father's approval did he send out the invitations.
Xiao Xia got on his brother Yang Zhao's carriage. Yang Zhao was extremely happy as the family was finally reunited, so he came to pick up his brother in person.
Xiao Xia got on the carriage, handed him a long box and said with a smile: "I gave my second sister a restaurant. If I don't give my eldest brother a gift, he will definitely feel uncomfortable. This is for you."
Yang Zhao grumbled with his chubby face shaking, "That's right! Feiyan got rich, but I didn't. I feel so jealous. What's in this box?"
Yang Zhao took the heavy long box and asked.
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "You'll know once you open it!"
Yang Zhao opened the box with great anticipation. He recognized the sword in front of him at a glance: "Zhanlu". As an avid weapon collector, he had a pattern of this sword hanging on the wall of his weapons cabinet.
But now, the real thing actually appeared in front of him. Yang Zhao was stunned. He rubbed his eyes quickly. After a while, Yang Zhao suddenly shouted "Ah! Ah! Ah!" and was so excited that he couldn't speak.
He held the sword tightly in his arms, stared at Xiao Xia with his small eyes and said, "This is mine, don't fight with me!"
Seeing his childish nature coming out, Xiao Xia couldn't help but laugh and said, "I gave you the sword as a gift, why should I fight with you for it?"
“That’s right—”
Yang Zhao still looked at Xiao Xia suspiciously, "You are also a martial artist, would you not like this famous sword?"
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "I like weapons that can be used, like the Chaofeng Sword on my waist. Although it is also a famous sword, it is very practical!"
"What? The sword you hold is the Shiokaze Sword?"
Yang Zhao's eyes became hot again. He stared at the sword on Xiao Xia's waist and couldn't help but wanted to reach out again. However, this time, Xiao Xia slapped him away without hesitation.
"Just be content with the Zhanlu Sword! Stop staring at my Chaofeng Sword. If the Zhanlu Sword could only be collected and not used, I wouldn't give it to you."
Yang Zhao took his hand back, hugged the sword tightly and said, "That's right. A thousand-year-old sword like the Zhanlu Sword can only be collected. Who would be willing to use it? Third brother, where did you get it from?"
"My aunt gave it to me? Both swords."
Yang Zhao immediately said sourly: "I am also her nephew. When I was a child, my aunt loved me the most. How could she not give me hers?"
"This kind of artifact depends on fate. I can't give it to you just because I want to. You have to be destined to get it!"
“I have a connection with it!”
Yang Zhao said firmly, "It's mine now, no one can take it away."
Xiao Xia nodded, "Keep it well and don't show it to anyone, otherwise it will be stolen by thieves."
"I know. I will put it in the underground palace in the mansion. No one can steal it."
Yang Zhao quickly ordered the driver, "Go back to my house first!"
He had to put the sword away first.
The carriage waited for a while at Yang Zhao's mansion. Yang Zhao ran out happily and got on the carriage. The carriage then drove towards the Prince of Jin's residence a few hundred steps away.
The main gate of Prince Jin's residence is outside the wall of the neighborhood, and there is also a small gate inside the neighborhood, which is mainly for family members to pass through.
Yang Zhao and his brothers went straight into the back house through a small door.
It was the first time for Xiao Xia to enter the main residence of Prince Jin. Even his mother Xiao Chunyu had never been to this house. Princess Xiao would never allow Xiao Chunyu to enter the house, but this time, she took the initiative to invite Xiao Xia to the mansion.
Yang Zhao whispered to Xiao Xia, "Today is actually the princess' birthday, but my father has not announced it to the public. It's enough for the family to know about it."
Xiao Xia nodded, "I just happened to prepare a gift for her."
Yang Zhao waved his hands quickly, "Last time you gave her seven gems, she liked them very much, you don't need to give her any more this time." Xiao Xia smiled and said, "The more gifts, the less blame!"
Xiao Xia took out the box from his arms and said, "Give it to Auntie for me!"
His gift was the white jade seal blank taken out from the secret room, which he also found by chance in Huang Yaokuan's study. It was of the quality of an imperial seal, weighing about one hundred grams, and was very rare in the world.
Huang Yaokuan was certainly not qualified to use a jade seal of this quality. Xiao Xia originally wanted to use it for himself, but finally decided to give it to Princess Xiao. Princess Xiao was an expert in both calligraphy and painting, so she was more suitable for this jade seal.
Yang Zhao opened the box and looked at it, then sighed, "What a wonderful thing you have in your hands! The princess will definitely like it very much, but you should give it to her yourself!"
Turning back, he saw Princess Xiao walking towards him, surrounded by a group of maids and servants. Xiao Xia hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, "Xia'er greets you, madam!"
Xiao Xia and Princess Xiao had reconciled at Yang Zhao's house last time. Although he had a quarrel with his father that time, he and Princess Xiao did not fall out.
Princess Xiao smiled and said, "You and your son have finally reconciled. Congratulations. Xia'er, welcome home!"
Xiao Xia nodded silently, "Thank you for your tolerance, Auntie!"
He handed the box to Princess Xiao and said with a smile: "This is a little gift from me, to wish you a happy birthday!"
Princess Xiao gladly took it. She took out the white jade seal material and looked at it carefully. The jade seal was as white and smooth as mutton fat. She was very happy in her heart. Such good jade material could only be compared with her father's jade seal.
"Thank you for your kindness, Xia'er. I like this jade seal very much!"
Princess Xiao handed the box to her personal maid and said to her eldest son Yang Zhao, "Your father is in the front receiving guests, go and help!"
Yang Zhao agreed and left in a hurry.
Princess Xiao said softly to Xiao Xia, "Xia'er, I have prepared a yard for you. Come with me!"
Xiao Xia followed the princess to the east, and soon they came to a courtyard against the wall. The princess smiled and said, "This was originally your father's teahouse. Your father gave it to you. From now on, this is your courtyard. You can come back anytime. You are my nephew and my son. I should care about you more. Why bother with some old things? Now think about it again. Life is only a few decades long. If your mother is willing to come back, she is still my sister, and there is a place for her here."
Regardless of whether the princess was sincere or just trying to win over Xiao Xia, she was her mother's cousin, her father's wife, and her aunt after all. Xiao Xia accepted her apology.
"Thank you, Auntie. I'll tell my mother when I see her!"
Princess Xiao smiled and said, "Just take a good rest here, Xiaoqing, you will follow the Third Young Master from now on!"
A tall and extremely beautiful maid bowed and said, "As you command!"
Just as Xiao Xia was about to postpone it, Princess Xiao would not allow him to refuse and said with a smile, "You have a good rest. I will go to accompany the ladies!"
She turned around and left quickly, followed by a large group of servants. Only Xiao Xia and the maid Xiaoqing were left in the yard.
Xiaoqing was feeling uneasy. She stepped forward and bowed, "Your servant Xiaoqing greets you, sir!"
Whatever! Anyway, I won’t be here often in the future, so I’ll just leave this maid here!
"Have you always been with my aunt?"
"Yes! The mistress has four personal maids, Hongxiu, Huangqin, Chaqing, and Cibai. I am Chaqing."
Xiao Xia nodded and asked, "How old are you?"
"This servant is sixteen years old!"
"Last name?"
"My father's surname is Zhuang, and my name is Zhuang Xiaoqing. It was the name my mistress gave me when I was born. Chaqing is the name I was given in my mistress's room."
It turned out that she was a slave of an aristocratic family. Xiao Xia smiled and said, "Since your name is Cha Qing, you must be good at making tea. Please make me a pot of tea first!"
"Please come sit in the room for a while, Xiaoqing will be here soon."
Since this is a tea tasting room, all kinds of tea cakes, tea sets and stoves are available. Xiaoqing started to get busy in the yard.
(End of this chapter)