Chapter 886: Side Story: Xia Hongming and Tang Huaixiao 5
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The sky in winter always turned dark very early.
When Tang Huaixiao and the others entered the city, it was almost dark. They took out the invitation letter and a soldier led the way to where they would be staying.
The soldiers said with a smile, “Sirs, my surname is Zhao, and my name is Zhao Wu. Everything is prepared. Please follow me.”
“If you have any requests, just tell me.”
Xia Hongming valued the soldiers very much. As long as they were invited, they would be treated respectfully.
When he saw Tang Huaixiao and the other two, he was very respectful and polite, hoping to make them like him.
Hearing Zhao Wu’s words, Tang Huaijin and Tang Huaiyu’s expressions immediately turned cold.
Tang Huaixiao was wearing a mask and her thin lips were pursed tightly. She did not speak, so no one knew how she felt.
Tang Huaijin widened his eyes in anger and his breathing was heavy. He reached out and grabbed Zhao Wu’s clothes. “Did you just call my sister sir?”
Zhao Wu was stunned. These three people were tall and strong. One could tell at a glance that they were men.
Looking at Tang Huaijin’s angry expression, Zhao Wu knew that he must have said something he shouldn’t, but he didn’t know what it was. Zhao Wu smiled obsequiously. “Young Master, if there’s anything 1 didn’t do well, just tell me. 1’11 definitely change.”
Tang Huaixiao was about the same height as Tang Huaijin. She was not fat and was considered lean, but her chest was flat, so it was not strange for her to be recognized as a man.
Tang Huaixiao held Tang Huaijin’s hand and said coldly, “Brother, he doesn’t know that I’m a woman. Don’t be angry.”
Tang Huaijin took a deep breath and let go.
Zhao Wu was enlightened and quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. 1 was blind and didn’t know that there was a heroine.”
Tang Huaixiao was very calm. She was wearing a mask, so no one could guess her emotion from her facial expression. Her voice was cold. “It’s fine.”
Tang Huaiyu said to Zhao Wu calmly, “The three of us are from the Tang family in Jiufang City. Zhao Wu, please don’t get it wrong again. My sister is magnanimous and doesn’t mind, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t mind.”
Zhao Wu quickly nodded. “Yes, yes, yes…”
This was a lesson for him. In the future, when he received people, the first thing he had to do was figure out their gender.
After arranging for Tang Huaixiao and the others to stay, Zhao Wu left.
Zhao Wu immediately reported the arrival of the three people from the Tang family.
The news was quickly sent to Ying Xiangru. Ying Xiangru frowned. Since December, people had been coming to the capital one after another. He reported every person who came, but Xia Hongming’s expression was dark. It was obvious that he had yet to see the person he wanted to see.
Ying Xiangru wrote a report and sent it to the palace.
In the palace.
Xia Hongming leaned against the couch. He was sleepy and had lost a lot of weight during this period of time. The eunuch rushed over with a report.
Xia Hongming opened his eyes. “Someone came again?”
The eunuch nodded. “Yes.”
Xia Hongming took the report and opened it. When he saw the word “Tang”, he immediately perked up.
It was written on the report.
Today, at quarter past five, three people came with their entourage. Three of them were from the Tang family in Jiufang City. One of them was a burly man with big arms and a round waist. One of them was thin. The other woman looked like a man. She was about seven feet tall and did not speak much.
The three of them were Tang Huaijin, Tang Huaiyu, and Tang Huaixiao.
In order to let Xia Hongming know if the person was the one he was looking for, the report Ying Xiangru sent him included the looks and names of the people who came. If there was the person Xia Hongming was looking for, Xia Hongming would know the moment he saw the report.
The eunuch lowered his head.
Xia Hongming narrowed his eyes and closed the report. He was relieved to see that Tang Huaixiao was here. He said calmly, “There are only a few days left before the award ceremony. This ceremony must be grand and nothing must go wrong.”
“Go and ask the heads of the six departments to see me after the court tomorrow. 1 want to personally ask about the progress.”
After saying that, Xia Hongming waved his hand.
The eunuch left after receiving the order.
After the eunuch left, Xia Hongming heaved a sigh of relief. For some reason, he was looking forward to meeting Tang Huaixiao.
Even though the officials knew that Xia Hongming had decided to reward the soldiers to untie the knot in his heart, when they saw so many people entering the capital, they felt dizzy. The consorts in the harem cared the most about whether there were beautiful women. However, until the last day, no beautiful women appeared, and they could finally heave a sigh of relief.
Actually, they knew that even if there were women, they wouldn’t be beautiful. In those places at the border, most of them had dark faces and rough skin.
On the 22nd of December, the ceremony was held outside the palace hall.
Tang Huaixiao and the others found a seat and sat down. The crowd was noisy.
Some people competed in martial arts, while others arm-wrestled. It was extremely lively.
After the ceremony began, it quietened down. The graceful dancers slowly entered the venue and musicians played.
Xia Hongming sat at the top. He searched the crowd. When he saw Tang Huaixiao, who was wearing a mask, he heaved a sigh of relief. Their eyes met. Xia Hongming felt as if his heart was being squeezed by a hand. He raised his glass and nodded at Tang Huaixiao.
Tang Huaixiao retracted her gaze and did not touch her glass.
Xia Hongming felt a little disappointed and inexplicably down.
The officials below were all guessing what he was thinking. They looked in his direction and saw a group of people. No matter how they looked at the group of people, they didn’t see anyone special.
Ying Xiangru felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.. Beside him, Lord Zhou asked him in a low voice, “Prime Minister, can the knot in the emperor’s heart be removed this time?”