Opening of the Inn
Proofreader/Editor:Nene Yashiro

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Tang De hadn’t been around Tang Jiwei’s house much in the past month, but last night, he excitedly came to inform them that today was the opening day of the inn and hoped they would come to witness it.

Today, Tang Jiwei and Madam Xiao naturally got up early to prepare.

“Jiwei, wear that red robe; it’s festive!” Madam Xiao said, seeing him come out in a blue round-collared outfit and immediately sending him back to change.

Tang Jiwei twitched his lips and said, “Mother, today is his opening, not my wedding. If I wear red, I might steal Tang De’s thunder. This outfit is just fine.”

Madam Xiao shot him a glare, realizing he had a point, so she didn’t push him further. She herself wore a dark red ru skirt and had pinned the hairpin that Tang De had given her into her hair. Although it wasn’t valuable, it represented his filial intentions, making it quite appropriate for the occasion.
Tang Jiwei noticed that Madam Xiao seemed much younger, no longer as haggard and weak as when he first woke up. Since he began sharing the burden of the family, her face had regained the luster appropriate for her age. Once a noble lady, she was now exuding grace and elegance.

Madam Xiao hurriedly took Tang Jiwei to Tang De’s inn. The location was quite far from Tang Jiwei’s home, situated at an intersection on the official road. Tang Jiwei suggested taking a carriage, but Madam Xiao shot him down, saying it would waste money.

Tang Jiwei’s body was not as strong as it had been in his previous life, and after walking just a few streets, he gradually slowed down, panting. In contrast, Madam Xiao moved with the agility of a spry old woman.

“My dear son, are you feeling unwell? I’ll go get a carriage; just wait here!” Seeing Tang Jiwei sweating with a pale face, she forgot all about money and waste.

“Mother, I’m fine. We’re just a couple of streets away. It wouldn’t make sense to take a carriage now; I can just rest for a bit.”

Tang Jiwei stopped his mother, who had worked tirelessly her whole life, never spending an extra penny, yet she was willing to do anything for her only son. He envied the owner of this body; though the soul had departed, the body could still live on with his mother for a long time.

When Tang Jiwei and Madam Xiao arrived, the area outside the inn was already packed with people. Tang De stood on an elevated spot, enthusiastically greeting guests, speaking with more fervor than a storyteller. His second uncle was at the entrance, puffing on a water pipe, while his second aunt had a smile that could bloom into a flower, looking around for familiar faces to show off. As she turned, she spotted the mother and son outside.

“Sister-in-law, you’re here! Oh, you’re wearing new clothes today; you look really good!” Second Aunt was in a great mood and praised everyone she saw, not even sparing Madam Xiao.

Women always love to hear compliments about their appearance. Even if you are a woman of substance, who doesn’t want to be both talented and beautiful?

Madam Xiao chuckled softly, covering her mouth, before patting Second Aunt’s hand, saying, “You’ll be enjoying your peaceful life now that Tang De is successful and capable. You and your husband will have a good life ahead!”

Second Aunt replied politely, though her eyes squinted with joy, revealing just how happy she was.

“Jiwei, thank you for the calligraphy you did for the inn; everyone says it’s beautifully written. Our Tang De is destined to run an inn and support the family, but you’re different. You’re someone who could be a marquis or minister!” Second Aunt animatedly gestured as if Tang Jiwei had already become a high-ranking official.

With earnestness, Second Aunt advised him, “The palace exam is coming up soon; make sure you prepare well. I’ll go to the kitchen and pack you some food to take home and review your studies. This noisy place isn’t where you should be right now!”

As she spoke, she rushed inside to pack food for Tang Jiwei, who was left with a wry smile at being ‘sent away.’

“Your aunt means well; it’s for your own good. When your father was alive, he treated them well. Now they naturally want you to succeed and bring joy to your father in the afterlife. Don’t think she’s rushing you out because she dislikes you!” Madam Xiao said.

Tang Jiwei nodded, saying, “I can tell the good from the bad; I understand Auntie Tang’s intentions.”

“That’s good. She’s right. You’ll be taking the palace exam soon. Reviewing your studies is important, but more crucial is to keep your composure. Those who achieve great things remain calm in the face of danger. Take my words to heart,” Madam Xiao advised him. She understood her son’s capabilities and wasn’t worried about whether he had studied enough; she cared more about his mindset.

Second Aunt emerged from inside, carrying the packed food, and handed the box to Tang Jiwei, saying, “These are some of the chef’s best dishes; make sure to take care of them!”

Auntie Tang felt the walk back was long and worried the food would get cold, so she had the kitchen staff prepare soup, thinking it would stay warm longer, even if it was a bit inconvenient to carry.

“Make sure you go back and study well; Tang De will need you in the future!” Second Aunt had high hopes for Tang Jiwei. They didn’t dare dream of him being the top scholar, but as long as he was among the top three, there would be hope for the family.

Tang Jiwei nodded and took the food, saying, “I’ll head back now. Auntie, remind Tang De to keep the accounts in order and ensure the food is hygienic; with so many people coming and going, there shouldn’t be any issues.”

“Got it! I’ll keep reminding him. Be careful on your way!” Second Aunt waved, smiling.

Tang Jiwei said to his mother, “Mother, I’ll be leaving now. If I’m late, let Tang De bring you back.”

Madam Xiao smiled in agreement, taking Second Aunt’s hand as they headed off to see the new Tang boss.

Inside the Qinzheng Hall, the emperor was preparing to leave the palace when he heard Chief Eunuch Li Sheng say the Empress Dowager was coming. He furrowed his brow slightly and changed into casual clothes to wait in the main hall.

“Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager arriving at this hour likely means she doesn’t come with good news!” Chief Eunuch Li Sheng said, bending slightly.

Han Zhen sat upright, sipping tea, lightly stroking the lid of the teapot. “The court and palace are peaceful. Her arrival is probably just for her spoiled daughter. I want to see how much she will ask for.”

Chief Eunuch Li Sheng nodded thoughtfully, stepping aside and sending away all the unnecessary palace maids and eunuchs.

“The Empress Dowager has arrived!”

“I bow to the Empress Dowager!” Chief Eunuch Li Sheng knelt halfway.

“I greet you, Mother,” Han Zhen said, bowing in respect.

The Empress Dowager, elegantly holding the hand of a maid, walked in with a graceful demeanor, smiling as she sat down. “My son needn’t be so formal; rise!”

Han Zhen straightened up and sat on a nearby soft couch.

“Have I disturbed the Emperor’s rest? Seeing how nice the weather is, I came to chat with you. If I’ve interrupted your governance, that would be my fault,” the Empress Dowager said lightly with a smile.

“I was preparing to leave the palace for a stroll; you’re welcome to come; I’m not disturbed,” Han Zhen replied.

The Empress Dowager was always unsure of his mood, and hearing his calm tone made her wonder what he was thinking. She had discussed with the princess in the Duanyang Palace and felt that for the princess to remarry, she would need the emperor’s support. A widowed princess whose former husband was corrupt would be challenging to marry off, and though the princess was the Empress Dowager’s own daughter, her high status wouldn’t guarantee success in finding a new husband. After much contemplation, she decided to talk.
“I don’t have any major issues, but since the emperor took the throne, the inner palace has become much quieter. I thought about how busy the emperor is with state affairs, but we can’t neglect matters within the inner court either. With only one empress, one imperial concubine, and two noble ladies, that seems a bit too few.”

The Empress Dowager glanced at Han Zhen’s expression, seeing no signs of dissatisfaction, before continuing with a smile, “What I mean is, it’s time to select new maidens. The emperor governs diligently and is beloved by the people; the maidens should be those of virtuous character and beauty. What do you think, Your Majesty?”

Han Zhen pinched the bridge of his nose and replied in a calm tone, “I’ve only recently ascended to the throne and don’t want to burden the people or waste resources just yet. You needn’t worry about the selection, Mother.”

The Empress Dowager immediately withdrew her smile, resting her hand on the armrest and huffing lightly, “The emperor must consider expanding the royal line. It’s too sparse to have only one crown prince in the harem. For the sake of the family’s enduring legacy, I believe the emperor shouldn’t be so willful.”

Han Zhen chuckled softly, the corners of his mouth lifting. Dressed in casual clothing, he still radiated an air of authority and dignity. The Empress Dowager felt a slight unease but couldn’t show it. Han Zhen lightly tapped the lid of the teapot, picked up his cup, concealing the emotions in his eyes, which glimmered coldly.

“So you mean it’s necessary to select maidens? I’m not being willful, but if you insist, then go ahead with the selection. Just don’t make it extravagant; let’s choose from the noble ladies of official families,” Han Zhen said, setting down his teacup.

The Empress Dowager’s nerves tightened. Although the emperor neglected the empress, he still allied with the Duke of Zhenguo’s family. The Gu family was declining, and her own family might not be able to help much. If they selected from noble families, the emperor could use those connections to gain substantial power, effectively controlling their fates. Moreover, her youngest son was still young, and without supporters in the court, it would be hard for him to gain any advantages.

“Since the emperor has spoken, we’ll proceed as you say. The empress is still under house arrest, so I’ll have to take care of this matter myself,” the Empress Dowager squinted her eyes, calculating.

“Thank you for your trouble, Mother,” Han Zhen replied, indifferent.

The Empress Dowager wanted to discuss Yu Cheng’s matter but feared he might seize on it. After all, she had already irritated him earlier and worried she might be unhelpful regarding Yu Cheng. But since she was already there, she didn’t want to leave empty-handed.

“What does the emperor think about Yu Cheng’s situation?” she inquired, carefully choosing her words.

Han Zhen raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting slightly as he turned to look at the Empress Dowager from his position on the couch. “Zhang Yuan wasted my efforts on him, but Yu Cheng is my sister, and I won’t shift my anger onto her. Besides, in the end, Yu Cheng produced evidence of Zhang Yuan’s crimes to assist the Ministry of Justice, which makes me feel rather pleased.”

The Empress Dowager sighed in relief. As long as the emperor wasn’t intentionally making things difficult for her, there was still a chance for Yu Cheng to remarry well.

“It’s unfortunate for Yu Cheng to have fallen for such a useless man. As her brother, the emperor should help her find a suitable match among the noble lords. Background and family status are secondary; good character is most important.”

Han Zhen responded, “Naturally. Does Mother have anyone suitable in mind?”

The Empress Dowager had some candidates in her mind, but she worried that noble families might look down on a divorced princess. If they didn’t select from the aristocracy, it might seem a loss of face for the royal family, and the princess would likely suffer in her marriage.

“I don’t have a particular choice yet. What does the emperor think? Are there any young gentlemen from the previous dynasty with both good character and family background? The princess is already twenty, which makes it difficult to find a match.” She furrowed her brows, assessing Han Zhen’s expression.

Han Zhen replied, “Noble families like the Duke of Xuanping and the Marquis of Yongchang have substantial prestige and are accustomed to marrying into the royal family, but if she were to marry into their families, the princess might have to settle for a younger son.”

The Empress Dowager stood up, her hair ornaments swaying slightly, and slapped the table in anger, saying, “How can a princess marry a younger son? Younger sons can’t inherit titles and are of little importance. Yu Cheng cannot be allowed to suffer such a fate!”

Han Zhen coldly chuckled inwardly and replied nonchalantly, “There are plenty of charming and talented young scholars this time around. If the princess doesn’t want a younger son from a duke or marquis, she can choose from these candidates. I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now. Mother, please discuss this further with the princess!”

With that, Han Zhen strode away, leaving the Empress Dowager in a state of anxiety, recalling how the ungrateful princess had insisted on marrying Zhang Yuan. She felt a wave of frustration and wished she could drag Zhang Yuan out of prison and scold him.

“Your Majesty, are you really going to let the princess choose from the scholars? She probably won’t approve,” Chief Eunuch Li Sheng said, following Han Zhen.

Han Zhen walked quickly toward the palace gate, saying, “Whether she approves or not is not her choice. She has already brought shame to the royal family; dreaming of marrying a marquis or heir is just wishful thinking!”

Chief Eunuch Li Sheng felt a jolt in his heart. He sensed that the princess didn’t seem like the type to accept her fate. Wouldn’t those dukes and marquises have no choice but to kneel and thank the emperor if he personally arranged a marriage for her? But the important thing was that his master didn’t want to put in the effort for her. Even if she was a princess, her marriage was never something she could control!

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Author’s Note: Here’s the update; if you like it, feel free to save it! Decided to come and apply some pressure on the emperor.