Chapter 11

The next morning, Tangxiu had just instructed her maids to prepare bedding, clothes, and other necessities for her visit to the orphanage when Du Xiangling came to visit.

“Tangtang, what delicious food are you having for breakfast? Let me try some,” Du Xiangling said, her voice full of cheer.

Tangxiu looked up and saw Du Xiangling striding in, wearing a three-colored water-field robe, one hand waving the golden nanmu folding fan she had pilfered from Tangxiu, the other holding a stack of boxes.

Several burly men followed behind her, each carrying boxes and wooden chests on their shoulders and backs.

Tangxiu stirred the porridge in her bowl. “Medicinal porridge. Do you want some?”

Du Xiangling made a surprised sound. “Medicinal porridge? No thanks.”

She sat down opposite Tangxiu, closed her fan, and opened a box, then told the men to open their chests as well.

“I was in such a hurry to see you yesterday that I didn’t bring the things I got for you. I’m making up for it today,” she said as she opened the boxes.

With a clatter, she grabbed a handful of pearls and handed them to Tangxiu. Under the sunlight, each pearl was round and lustrous, shimmering with a rainbow of colors. They were incredibly beautiful.

“I specially had someone exchange these for newly harvested South Sea pearls. What do you think? Is it good enough as your birthday gift this year?”

Tangxiu laughed.

South Sea pearls were rare and expensive. She must have gone to a lot of trouble to get so many, and they were all of the highest quality.

“My birthday isn’t for a few more days,” Tangxiu said.

Du Xiangling snorted. “I don’t care. I want to be the first to give you a gift.”

Then she took out various gemstones, such as agate, coral, and tortoise shell, and opened each box, displaying them in front of Tangxiu. The men spread out dragon brain resin, sandalwood, and ebony, which were rare even in the palace, on the carpet. Tangxiu almost couldn’t finish her porridge. How much money had Du Xiangling made this trip? She had found so many incredible things.

If she wasn’t so averse to traveling, she would have wanted to join Du Xiangling’s caravan.

After showing Tangxiu all the things she had brought, Du Xiangling made a grand gesture with her hand and said, “These are all yours.”

There were so many gifts. Tangxiu was both delighted and overwhelmed. “You’ve given me so much… I don’t know what to get you for your birthday.”

Du Xiangling waved her hand dismissively. “I’ll definitely be out when my birthday comes around. I’ll be in some remote, desolate place. I’ll be happy just to receive a letter from you.”

That was true.

Ever since Du Xiangling started running her caravan, she had spent very little time in the capital. Tangxiu had never been able to celebrate her birthday with her. She could only write letters and send gifts, and there was no guarantee they would reach her.

“I also got a gift for the Crown Princess,” Du Xiangling said. “But I can’t just go into the palace without a reason, given my status. I’ll give it to you first, and you can give it to her.”

Tangxiu said, “Okay. But I haven’t been to the palace much lately.”

Du Xiangling said, “No rush. Just bring it with you next time you go to the palace.”

Tangxiu agreed.

The Crown Princess was a close friend of both of them. They had been friends since childhood. Even after the Crown Princess married into the Eastern Palace and the three of them couldn’t play together like they used to, Du Xiangling still treated her equally. She never forgot to get the Crown Princess a gift.

After a moment, Liucai directed the maids to put everything away. Tangxiu finished her medicinal porridge. The kitchen sent over some freshly made refreshments for Tangxiu to cleanse her palate. Du Xiangling ate a couple of bites but then stopped. “I still prefer the pastry you sent to my house yesterday.”

Tangxiu said, “Those are new pastries from Zhengfangzhai, they haven’t started selling them yet. We’ll see if they’re for sale when the owner gets back.”

Du Xiangling made a questioning sound.

“What do you mean ‘get back’? I went to Zhengfangzhai yesterday, and he was there.”

“You said yesterday.”

Rumor had it that he had left the capital with his family as soon as the city gates opened this morning.

Hearing this, Du Xiangling went to Zhengfangzhai to confirm. She found that Tangxiu wasn’t lying. The owner had indeed left for his hometown early this morning to visit his daughter’s grave. And as soon as the owner was gone, the pastries at Zhengfangzhai immediately lost the taste she had been craving.

Du Xiangling sighed. Although she never turned down any food when she was traveling, even eating raw roots if necessary, she was actually quite picky when she had the option.

Unable to eat what she wanted, Du Xiangling could only settle for helping Tangxiu with her birthday celebration.

It was called a celebration, but it was really just a gathering of female relatives from the Tang Mansion, including Feng Jingrong, Yun Fu Ren, and Tang Ruo, for a meal. Yu San Ye and the eldest son of the second branch of the family were also invited. Tang Dongqi, her father, even took time off from the Left Military Governor’s Mansion beforehand. On Tangxiu’s birthday, he got up early and rushed to the estate outside the city to celebrate his daughter’s birthday.

On the way, Tang Dongqi found the carriage stuffy and lifted the curtain to let in some air. He glanced out and was immediately startled. There were so many people leaving the city today! Car after car, as far as the eye could see, the road was almost blocked.

He told Feng Jingrong, who was sitting next to him. Feng Jingrong casually glanced out and said, “Is it that many? They’re all sending birthday gifts to Tangtang.”

Birthday gifts for his daughter?

That’s not many, not many at all.

When they arrived at the estate and got out of the carriage, Tang Dongqi shaded his eyes with his hand and looked around. He saw that the number of carriages arriving at the estate was the same as last year at the Duke of Jiangxia’s Mansion, too many to count. Tang Dongqi was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly. Good, good, good. He knew that even after the divorce, his daughter’s reputation remained as strong as ever.

Tang Dongqi happily entered the estate.

As soon as he entered, he saw gift boxes piled everywhere. Even carriages had boldly driven in and were unloading their cargo. Tang Dongqi pointed to a few chests that were taller than him and asked. Sure enough, he was told that they were sent by his wealthy father-in-law. He then looked at the gift list, which was long and detailed, filled with names. Just listening to someone read it made his ears ache. It seemed like all the valuable things in the Feng family had been gathered and sent to Tangxiu.

Although he was always a little jealous on this particular day every year, this time, Tang Dongqi couldn’t control himself. The jealousy was several times worse than in the past.

He thought to himself, Tangtang just got divorced. Why does it feel like his father-in-law thinks she’s a poor, helpless little girl and is going all out to compensate her?

He hadn’t seen his father-in-law send so many gifts for his ex-wife’s birthday.

Tang Dongqi couldn’t help but feel a little resentful.

As a result, when the servant announced that the Duke of Jiangxia had arrived, Tang Dongqi subconsciously turned towards the entrance. He saw his half-hearted son-in-law riding in alone, not wearing his flying fish robe or carrying his embroidered spring knife. He was dressed in a plain gray robe, which made him seem unusually understated.

But in Tang Dongqi’s eyes, just the three words “Duke of Jiangxia” were enough to be high-profile.

So, when Chen Yue dismounted and came to greet Tang Dongqi, Tang Dongqi first gave a perfunctory “hm” and then, as if looking for a fight, asked, “Did Tangtang invite you?”

“…No.”

Chen Yue straightened up.

The weather was beautiful today, the wind was gentle, and the sun was shining. The man stood with his back to the light, and the gray color of his robe made him appear even more upright. He was probably half a head taller than Tang Dongqi. But before Tang Dongqi noticed that he actually had to look up at his son-in-law, Chen Yue had already lowered his head slightly, with a humble and respectful posture. “I came to deliver a birthday gift. I’ll leave as soon as I’ve delivered it.”

Hearing that Chen Yue wasn’t staying for the birthday celebration, Tang Dongqi felt a little better.

Why should he be the only one feeling resentful on a day like this? Everyone should feel resentful together.

He continued to pick a fight. “What kind of gift requires you, the Duke of Jiangxia, to deliver it personally?”

Tang Dongqi glanced at the gifts that were piled up all over the courtyard, making his meaning very clear. If the gift wasn’t as valuable as these, he wouldn’t even bother to come in and see Tangxiu.

“I’m afraid… the Left Military Governor would laugh if I told you.”

There was a very subtle pause in the middle of his sentence.

It was as if Chen Yue was used to calling Tang Dongqi his father-in-law, but when he was about to say it, he remembered the last time he called him “maternal grandfather” and quickly changed his words. Sure enough, Tang Dongqi didn’t show any signs of being offended. Chen Yue then continued, “It’s a small object I made myself.”

This was clearly a way of saying that the gift was personal and best kept secret, known only to Tangxiu.

But Tang Dongqi wouldn’t let up.

“What kind of object? Show it to me. If it’s not good…”

Then it shouldn’t be given to Tangxiu.

Tang Dongqi stared at Chen Yue, feeling even more resentful.

Knowing that his father-in-law had something against him, and that he wouldn’t be able to get past him today, Chen Yue had no choice but to show Tang Dongqi his gift.

It was indeed a very small object,

A fan pendant.

It was carefully crafted from the finest Hetian jade. The front was carved with a picture of listening to the wind under a pine tree, and the back was inscribed with two lines of Taoist incantations—Tangxiu naturally believed more in Taoism than Buddhism.

At first, Tang Dongqi thought the gift was too simple. Anyone could buy a fan pendant. But then he realized that the carving wasn’t the work of a master. He asked Chen Yue and learned that not only was the jade fan pendant made by Chen Yue himself, but so was the peace knot on the tassel below.

“Hm…”

The father-in-law assessed it for a long time with a cold eye. He thought it was alright. At least the sentiment was unique. It wasn’t too bad.

Chen Yue was finally able to enter.

Tangxiu was currently sitting with Feng Jingrong and the others, comparing and recording the gift lists from each family. Hearing Liucai say that the Duke of Jiangxia had arrived, Tangxiu looked up and gave Chen Yue a quick nod before continuing to check the gift list. She was very busy.

Chen Yue didn’t disturb her. He placed the box containing the fan pendant next to her, thinking he would come back later.

But just as he was about to leave, he heard that the gifts from the Princess Consort’s Mansion had arrived.

They were divided into three parts: Princess Consort Rui’an’s, the Duke’s, and Chen Tiao’s.

Chen Yue subconsciously glanced at them.

Thanks to that glance, Chen Yue noticed that Chen Tiao’s gift was a box full of fan pendants.

Although it was clearly bought, it couldn’t compare to the one he had made himself, but Chen Yue couldn’t help but frown.

He decided that when he got back, he would send a message to the Princess Consort’s Mansion and double Chen Tiao’s daily homework.

After Chen Yue left, the entire estate bustled for half a day before finally finishing the inventory and sorting of all the gifts. Tangxiu put down her pen and gently rubbed her wrist. She was so tired. She would definitely be able to finish her long life noodles this time.

The day’s bustle gradually subsided. The family sat together and enjoyed a lively dinner. Tangxiu saw them off on the carriage back to the city and started to enjoy her own leisure time.

The hot spring was shrouded in mist. Tangxiu relaxed in the water, wondering if she should have some more fun before it was over.

Birthday, birthday. Everyone wished her all her dreams come true. Didn’t that mean she could do whatever she wanted today? After all, it was the one day of the year when she could be as carefree as she wanted.

So…

“Go find a low-ranking official,” Tangxiu instructed Liucai. “Someone clean.”