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Chapter 23 Serve Tea

"We should get up. Later we still have to enter the palace to serve tea to the emperor." Song Song wiggled out of his arms, instructed some servants to fetch medicine for a hangover, and pulled out clothes from the cabinet to help Li Xiao wear. However, the man completely didn't want to cooperate, and even flopped into his arms, saying: "This husband's head hurts."

Song Song allowed him to lean against himself: "Then, let's not get up yet. You can first drink some medicine then take a nap."

In any case, the emperor loved him dearly. If he knew Li Xiao couldn't get up to serve the tea because his head hurt, he wouldn't blame him anyways. Song Song was just about to dispatch someone over, when arms circled his waist again. Li Xiao pressed his face against Song Song's soft abdomen. Song Song didn't know what he was thinking and could only say: "I'll send a messenger to the palace to tell them that the weather is too cold, the roads are slippery, it will take sometime before we arrive. That should leave you some time to get a little shut eye?"

Li Xiao leaned against him quietly for a while until the soup to cure hangovers was brought in. Song Song supported him and helped him drink it. Li Xiao finally said: "Forget it. Might as well get up."

Song Song helped him put his clothes on, saw the other kept staring at himself, and asked somewhat confused: "Do I have something on my face?"

"No." Li Xiao looked away. The two got ready appropriately and sat on the carriage to enter the palace.

Yesterday's snow fell for a full day and night, but the road to the palace had already been swept clean. The carriage rolled forward. Holding a hand warmer, Song Song lifted the curtains to peek outside. The cold air whistled past, and some random broken snow dust just happened to fly into his face and down his neck.

Song Song shuddered and quickly drew back, saying: "This is this year's first snow. Next year, we'll surely have a huge harvest."

Li Xiao raised his chin: "If you're really cold, this king can warm you up."

Song Song looked down and agreed with 'en' and said: "When we return tonight, let's eat hotpot. Has your highness eaten that with someone before?"

"Never." His voice sounded flat. Song Song suddenly recalled. Li Xiao was poisoned when he was only 11 years old. In the army, everyone continued to treat him with respect and fear. Even his most loyal subordinates worried about stimulating him.

But something like hot pot which was best suited to be eaten bosteriously by a group of people, he naturally wouldn't join. It would disrupt other people's spirits.

Song Song smiled and said: "In the future, I'll eat it with your highness. The hot pots I make taste really good. I promise after you eat it once, you'll want to eat it again."

"Okay."

When they reached their destination, the emperor and empress were already waiting for them. Song Song paid respect to them with Li Xiao and served tea to each of them. The emperor then said: "Sit. Stay to eat a meal together. Later, we can even call on your other brothers and sisters."

Song Song just joined the royal family. Today, he definitely had to meet and greet them one by one. He agreed and started making small talk about daily life with the two elders.

This emperor, Hong Ren, was generally praised to be very benevolent. Towards his wives and children, he was exceptionally kind. Of all his wives, his favorite was the previous empress. There's a saying: love the house and everything connected. Therefore, of all of his sons, the emperor's favorite was Li Xiao. Of course, Song Song thought this was also because when Li Xiao was very little, he was already very smart and likeable. He sat next to Li Xiao, unable to resist watching him from the side.

He's aware that Li Xiao was very good looking. When he smiled, he looked even more lively and handsome, like an immortal who descended to earth. It was said that when he was 8 years old, he went with the emperor to see people from the nation of Jing. Even people from this foreign nation praised Li Xiao as 'having the appearance of a dragon and phoenix, even the heavens will agree.' Looks like good looking people really weren't separated by national boundaries. Song Song couldn't resist smiling, his line of sight moving from Li Xiao's sharp eyebrows to his straight nose bridge, then landing on his somewhat curved lips. The middle of Li Xiao's lips carried a natural sharpness. When he pressed his mouth together, it made him gain a sense of sterness, however, Song Song knew as well how soft they were.

As if perceiving his gaze, Li Xiao suddenly looked over at him. Song Song immediately withdrew his line of sight. Just at this moment, someone announced: "The crown prince has arrived---"

A man stood at the entrance stamping snow off his feet. He took off his cloak, then lifted the curtains to enter. With a smile, he bowed to the emperor and empress courteously: "This son pays respect to father, mother. May father receive great peace and may mother receive great fortune."

"Very good." Hong Ren said smiling: "Go greet your brother-in-law."

The crown prince turned to salute: "Brother, brother-in-law."

(Note: The word used here is actually specifically for 'your brother's wife'")

Song Song stood up to return the greeting. Li Xiao said to the side: "We're all the same family, no need to be formal."

The crown prince smiled. When his gaze met with Song Song's, he paused for a second. Then he took his seat across from them.

The crown prince was the emperor's 3rd son, born of the current empress Qin. In front of him was the 2nd princess, who was already married. His appearance was somewhat similar to Li Xiao, but with a little of emperor Hong Ren's scholarly and kind features. No wonder the people outside always called him a rabbit. Compared to Li Xiao, his features were indeed far more gentler.

At this time, the emperor suddenly said: "Xiao-er. Your grandmother's health is not well today. The weather is too cold so I didn't ask her to come eat with us. You can take Song-er over to go chat with her, then come back later to the dining hall to meet the others."

"This son will follow your command."

Song Song excused himself and followed Li Xiao out the door together. Instantly, he let out a breath and said: "How come the moment the crown prince arrives, the emperor just kicks us out?"

"Perhaps he's afraid I'll use 3rd brother for practice?"

Song Song laughed: "In the end that's the crown prince. How could you always be so arrogant and without restraint."

"So what if he's the crown prince? I was also the crown prince before."

As an ex-crown prince, to be able to calmly say such a thing, for a moment, Song Song didn't know if he should say Li Xiao's attitude was too well-adjusted or to say that his attitude was too audacious. He held Li Xiao's hand and said: "Your highness even if you're no longer the crown prince, you're still exceptional amongst men."

He faintly felt pain for Li Xiao. The struggle between the royal family has always been cruel. In history, brilliant fallen talents like Li Xiao can only increase, not decrease. The events that happened all those years ago clearly weren't simple. In his previous life, although he floated around the palace for a long time, he never heard of Li Xiao taking revenge for himself No, that's not true. After Li Xiao obtained the throne, he pretty much chopped the prime minister and his eldest son into pieces. The rest of the Qin family were all exiled. What if the people who poisoned him were

Song Song thought about the empress who had such a tender and composed face in front of the emperor, and felt a slight heart palpitation.

"What's Song-er thinking about? Why is your hand suddenly ice-cold?"

"Nothing." Song Song returned from his thoughts: "I was thinking, does the empress dowager know about our marriage. If I suddenly go see her, will I scare her?" (Note: For clarification. This is the emperor's mother.)

Li Xiao grasped his hand and said warmly: "The empress dowager knows my things very clearly. Even before we got married, she was already impatiently urging me to bring you to see her."

"The empress dowager treats you well?"

"Naturally." Li Xiao said in a calming tone: "Of all of my brothers, the empress dowager loves me the most."

Song Song replied somewhat enviously: "How lucky."

"In the future, the people who love me will also love Song-er."

Song Song's eyes flashed. Even though it was well controlled, he still revealed a slight hint of anticipation.

They walked all the way to Taiye palace and unexpectedly saw the empress dowager currently heading out. The empress dowager was currently 70 years old. Blurry vision and legs with all kinds of illness, when she saw Li Xiao walk over, she didn't even see clearly until the other stopped in front of her and called grandmother. She instantly regained focus and said hastily: "Xiao-er came to see me? Quick, come in quickly. I was just about to go to Zhaoyang hall to see your new bride."

"This is Song-er, Song family's eldest son. This grandson told you about him before."

"Come come come." The empress dowager waved at Song Song and called him closer. Her gaze slid across his refined facial features, then moved down to examine the rest of his figure, then said smiling: "Good child. Xiao-er has a good eye. Quickly come in. Grandmother has lots of goodies for you two to eat here."

Song Song looked a little awkwardly at Li Xiao. The latter curved his lips and followed.

Song Song suddenly realized how much the older generation liked Li Xiao. If he didn't see the beautiful and luxurious clothes and hair style the empress dowager wore, he would have guessed she was just a normal elder.

She ordered someone to bring up some ready made refreshments and dessert, then had someone else get the long prepared gifts, and said with a smiling face: "Xiao-er told me ahead of time. Grandmother, as a woman, has plenty of jewelry and ornaments, but ones that can be used by men aren't much. Just now, I called someone to bring you 100 gold pieces. Later don't forget to take it with you."

Li Xiao said: "Thank you grandmother. Song-er loves gold the most."

Song Song heard what he said, immediately threw a glare at him. Who talks like that?

However, the empress grinned ear to ear: "Good child. Who doesn't love gold in this world. Song-er likes gold this much. He will definitely earn plenty of gold for you in the future. Xiao-er is so fortunate."

"What grandmother said is very reasonable. Song-er's grandfather was the old merchant Fu. In terms of ability to make money, if he said he were second, no one would dare to call themselves first."

The two echoed one after the another and praised Song Song to the heavens. Other than laughing sheepishly along, Song Song pretty much didn't know what to say in reply. The time passed very quickly while they chit chatted. Li Xiao looked at the time and asked to be excused to bring Song Song to the dining hall.

The empress dowager personally sent them all the way to the door, suddenly stuffed something into Song Song's hand, and said smiling: "If Song-er has nothing to do in the future, you can come visit this old grandmother to talk, okay?"

Song Song hastily nodded and said: "Take good care of yourself."

"Ai. Go. Shoo." Smiling, the empress dowager watched them leave. Her momo helped walk her back inside to be seated: "What an unfortunate child. Now that he's together with Xiao, at least they can take care of each other."

"Your majesty gave such an important item to that child "

"I'm already old. My eyes are blurry. Even if there are issues in the palace, I have no energy to deal with it." She finished and fell silent for a while: "There are some people here who are avaricious and insatiable. You give her a little taste of sweetness, she still wants more. Xiao-er is like a mountain, unmoveable. She wants more, so she could only step on him, press him flat, until he can't stand up anymore"

Her finger pointed above her head: "So she can get up there."

The momo looked down and replied in a small voice: "There's information from the imperial tutor's estate. A while back when Ping Wang had the outburst in his estate, it's because of a person from Dezhou."

The empress dowager fell silent again, then suddenly laughed. She lifted up her tea cup, opened the cover and scraped aside the leaves: "The emperor is too kind. He doesn't understand Xiao-er."

"You mean"

"Do you think Xiao-er accepted it?" The empress dowager said: "Why would he accept it?" If it were me, I also wouldn't."

Outside, Song Song passed the corner and looked down at the thing in his hand. He instantly pulled Li Xiao hard: "This is"

"This king said before, grandmother loves me and everyone connected to me, and therefore will definitely like Song-er." Li Xiao glanced over and said: "That's the token that the previous emperor bestowed upon the empress dowager. Anyone who sees the token must treat it as if seeing the previous emperor and the empress dowager in person. Even if my father wants your life, upon seeing this token, he'll have to spare your life. Even if you want to enter and exit the palace in the future, you'll be able to do so freely."

Song Song couldn't hold in his excitement: "That means even if you keep talking randomly in the future, I won't have to be afraid of you getting your head chopped off!"

".... " Li Xiao didn't say anything.

Song Song continued. "Why did the empress dowager give me this?"

"Because Song-er is very likeable"

This was the first time Song Song received such care from an elder, his heart instantly felt cosy. He hugged his hand warmer and said elated: "No wonder someone said I was like a parasite. I only have to grab the corner of your highness's clothes, then even I could obtain the chance to touch the sun in the sky."

Li Xiao turned over his face, narrowed his eyes and said: "Who called you a parasite?" (Note: let me recall for you guys. It was Madam Qin, Li Xiao's concubine from many chapters before.)

"Just joking around." Song Song smiled, but Li Xiao already treated it as real. He started at Song Song for a second, something faint could be observed emerging from his eyes. Just as Song Song thought he was about to have another episode, he suddenly turned around, pulled at Song Song's hand and continued to walk forward.

Then, a voice quietly entered Song Song's ears: "Song-er is like a celestial silk brocade. Mortals are not even worthy enough to look upon you, let alone understand how amazing you are."

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The author has something to say:

Song Song: What the heck is a celestial silk brocade?

Li Xiao: . Stop talking.