Chapter 228
5-6 minutes
To Pay a New Year Call (2)
After changing his clothes, Xie Xuanchen stepped outside the bedroom and signaled the maids to be silent. As a result, the maids immediately guessed that Mu Mingtang was still sleeping, so they didn’t dare to speak at the door and followed Xie Xuanchen to the study.
“What’s wrong?” Xie Xuanchen sat on the sandalwood armchair in the study and asked.
“Reporting to the lord, Lord Zhu Yang Hong, the deputy secretary of the administrative office, has come with his family to pay New Year’s greetings.”
‘Is it him?’ After hearing Zhu Yang Hong’s name, Xie Xuanchen was a little surprised. Even if he had expected Zhu Yang Hong’s visit, he never thought that he would come on the first day of the New Year.
“Invite them in and take them to the main hall. The princess is still sleeping, so don’t disturb her.” Xie Xuanchen commanded the maids.
“Yes.” The maids hurriedly went to welcome the guests.
Mu Mingtang, who was soundly sleeping not long ago, suddenly woke up and found that Xie Xuanchen was not lying beside her. Still drowsy, she got up and sat on the bed, then felt a piece of clothing slip off her shoulders. As she picked it up, she saw it belonged to Xie Xuanchen.
‘Isn’t this Xie Xuanchen’s? Where has he gone?‘ Surpassing her doubts, Mu Mingtang quickly put on her shoes and got down from the bed to look for Xie Xuanchen, alerting the maids who were outside the bedroom.
“Princess, you’re awake.” The maids said as they entered the room.
“Where’s the lord?”
“Lord Zhu and his family have come to pay New Year’s greetings to the prince. The prince is currently in the main hall meeting them.”
As Mu Mingtang was still feeling sluggish, it took her some time to realize what happened: “Lord Zhu and his family have come to pay New Year’s greetings… When did it happen?”
“About a quarter of an hour ago, princess.”
Hearing the maid’s words, Mu Mingatng couldn’t help but complain: “Guests are here, so why didn’t you call me?”
“The lord did not let us disturb the princess’s lunchtime nap.” One of the maids replied timidly.
‘It was Xie Xuanchen again.’ Mu Mingtang thought, pursing her lips.
“Guests have come to pay New Year’s greetings, yet he went to meet them sneakily without me.”
The maids did not say anything, knowing well when to keep silent. Mu Mingtng also didn’t expect any response from them.
She arranged her messy hair, changed her coat, and strode towards the main hall.
When Mu Mingtang walked to the main hall, the maid at the door quickly greeted her: “Princess.”
The main hall suddenly became quiet and Xie Xuanchen walked to the door.
“I told the maids not to wake you up. Why did you wake up so early?”
Everyone from the Zhu family was sitting in the main hall, so when they heard Mu Mingtang had come, they all stood up and looked at the door. As Mu Mingtang entered the door, she whispered to Xie Xuanchen while gritting her teeth. “You secretly got up again. Someone has come to pay New Year greetings and you didn’t even tell me.”
“What are you talking about? You were sleeping so soundly. How can I wake you up for such a trivial matter?” Xie Xuanchen refused to accept Mu Mingtang’s accusation.
As Zhu Yang Hong, Mrs. Zhu and others were looking at them, Mu Mingtang didn’t plan to argue with Xie Xuanchen. But, she only went inside after giving him fierce glare, signaling that she would settle accounts with him later.
When Mu Mingtang and Xie Xuanchen approached the Zhu family, Zhu family members including Zhu Yuqing stepped forward and bowed again, “The princess is here. Princess, accept our New Year’s greetings.”
In addition to Mr and Mrs Zhu, juniors of the Zhu family were also present there, making Mu Mingtang feel more shy. Somehow, she managed to control her emotions and said with a smile, “Greetings to Lord Zhu, Madam Zhu and others. You don’t have to be polite, please get up quickly.”
After they greeted each other, the hosts and guests sat in their seats.
“I was just taking a nap and didn’t know about your arrival. I am sorry for being late.” Mu Mingtang endured her embarrassment and explained why she was late.
Since the Zhu family came to pay New Year’s greetings, they would never choose an inconvenient time to visit. But now, since she was still sleeping at this hour of the day, it was easy for people to misunderstand that she was a lazy person.
People may find it hard to believe but Mu Mingtang was, in fact, a hardworking person. She just went to accompany Xie Xunachen to sleep, but as a result, she had fallen asleep, which resulted in her late arrival.
As she remembered that Xie Xuanchen was the reason for her late arrival, Mu Mingtang glared at Xie Xuanchen again.
Everyone in the Zhu family noticed Mu Mingtang’s gaze, and no one dared to speak for a while.