Chapter 7: Quite a Temper

Ling Xiao’s face was impassive, but a hint of sarcasm flickered in his dark eyes.

He must be laughing at her.

Ling Xiao tilted his head slightly, his expression momentarily strange. He said calmly, “As you wish.”

Yao’s pupils constricted. She agreed.

Mrs. Lin patted Yao happily, “You need to choose carefully. It doesn’t matter about their family background this time. The most important thing is to find someone who can live a good life with him. Marriage is different from other things. It’s a lifetime commitment. It doesn’t matter how beautiful or glamorous they are at first, but it’s how they live their lives together that matters.”

When Ling Xiao married Yao, Mrs. Lin wasn’t actually very happy. She had spent a lot of money on her, and she had run away from home. Besides, she was so beautiful. Mrs. Lin didn’t think she would be able to live a good life.

Since Yao entered the family, the atmosphere in the Ling household had been good. Ling Xiao seemed to have stopped being so gloomy and had started to smile again. Yao was also sensible and took good care of him. Seeing them so loving, Mrs. Lin was relieved, especially since Ling Xiao’s lifespan was so short.

Although Ling Chen wasn’t as imposing as Ling Xiao, he was actually kind-hearted. But he was also distant and aloof, and even his own mother found it difficult to get close to him. After Yao came, he had become more lively.

Yao’s arrival had brought completeness to Ling Xiao’s life.

So Mrs. Lin hoped that Ling Xiao could also marry a warm and kind wife and live a good life, a fulfilling life.

Yao held the stack of matchmaking cards, feeling like she was holding a hot potato. She couldn’t throw them away.

She swallowed and said stiffly, “Okay.”

Mrs. Lin turned to Ling Xiao, “When it comes to a wife, the most important thing is that she’s happy. Tell me, what kind of woman do you like? It’ll be easier for me to help you choose.”

Ling Xiao glanced at her, his voice sarcastic, “Just someone who is obedient, well-spoken, and has a good appearance, both inside and out.”

Yao met his dark eyes, her face flushing with anger. Sarcasm.

Mrs. Lin didn’t notice the sarcasm in Ling Xiao’s words. She nodded, “That’s right. Just someone who is simple and can live a peaceful life!”

Yao responded dryly, “Okay.”

Ling Xiao accompanied Mrs. Lin for dinner and then left.

He was busy with court affairs and didn’t have much free time. The Marquis’s Mansion was a gift from the emperor, and he had never managed it. Now that Mrs. Lin was back, the mansion was naturally entrusted to her.

But Mrs. Lin was old and couldn’t read, and her son couldn’t handle these things, so she simply entrusted them to Yao.

Yao had never managed a household before, but she had learned some accounting in the past, and Steward Wang helped her sort things out. After a lot of effort, she finally managed to get the affairs of the inner mansion in order.

She could learn how to manage the inner mansion, but she had no idea about social interactions, banquets, which gifts to accept, and which gifts to decline.

And Mrs. Lin was even less knowledgeable.

She could only ask Ling Xiao.

It was difficult to approach him, and she was actually a little afraid of him. Besides, there was Ling Shen. Ling Shen had suddenly become diligent in his studies, saying that he was going to study for the imperial examinations, and he asked her to help him.

Yao hesitated for a long time before finally mustering up the courage to go to the study.

Ling Xiao had been busy with state affairs these past few days, and they hadn’t even seen each other. She had only heard that he was very busy.

“Madam, what brings you here?” The guard, Jian, stood at the door and bowed to Yao.

Yao pursed her lips and hesitated before saying, “I have some things to ask the Military Marquis.”

“I’ll go inform him.”

Jian turned and pushed open the door. Ling Xiao was at his desk, flipping through documents. The emperor had just ascended the throne, and the power struggles in the court were intense. He was now stationed in the capital, suppressing the various factions, and it was very tiring.

“Your Highness, Madam is here. She said she has something to see you.” Jian said.

Ling Xiao paused slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on the documents. He said calmly, “Let her in.”

“Yes.”

Yao stood at the door, feeling a little nervous. She even wondered if he would simply tell her to get lost.

That would be fine. She could just hand over the management of the mansion, and then she could just quietly accompany her mother-in-law and not have to worry about anything.

Jian came back and smiled, “Madam, please come in.”

Yao was stunned. She thought he would at least give her a hard time.

She didn’t say anything else and stepped inside.

“Your Highness.”

Ling Xiao leaned back in his grandmaster’s chair, putting down the documents. His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, and his dark eyes were cold. “What is it?”

Yao placed a stack of gift lists on the desk, “These are the gift lists from various families. Your Highness, should we keep them all?”

Ling Xiao glanced at them and circled a few with his pen, “Keep these, return the rest.”

He raised his eyes, “These are all former officials who were close to Prince Yong. We need to draw a clear line. If they send anything else, throw it away.”

Yao nodded cautiously, remembering it.

“There are also invitations to various banquets…”

Ling Xiao was too lazy to even look at them, “Handle these yourself. Except for those former officials who were close to Prince Yong, the rest are fine.”

He was now a high-ranking official, and these banquets were just a way for them to show their respect. He didn’t care much about them.

Yao handed him another booklet.

Ling Xiao flipped through it. The matchmaking cards of the noble girls in the capital were bound into a booklet, “What’s this?”

“I’ve sorted through the matchmaking cards sent by the noble girls in the capital according to your requirements, and I’ve bound them into a booklet for easy browsing and selection.”

Ling Xiao raised his eyes and looked at her, “Since I’ve entrusted you with this, why are you showing me these?”

Yao’s face tightened. A wave of oppressive pressure washed over her, and she said cautiously, “After all, you’re getting married. You should choose someone you like.”

“If you choose someone, and then I marry her, and she’s not to my liking, who will be blamed?”

He curled his lips, a hint of mischief in his eyes, “The eldest sister-in-law’s choice is never wrong.”

Yao’s face suddenly flushed. He was being sarcastic again. He was still holding a grudge over that “eldest sister-in-law is like a mother” remark!

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t say anything else!”

Yao had had enough of this oppressive atmosphere. She blushed and said, “Okay, I’ll handle it.”

She reached out to take the booklet.

But he didn’t let go.

Yao tugged, but she couldn’t pull it away. She raised her eyes, and a hint of annoyance flashed in her clear eyes.

He raised his eyebrows, “Quite a temper.”

She’s not as obedient as she seems.

Yao took a deep breath, calming her emotions, “Is there anything else, Your Highness?”

“There are banquets at several mansions, inviting the noble families in the capital. Make arrangements. If you don’t understand anything, ask Steward Wang.”

Yao was stunned. Banquets for all the noble families in Yanjing?

He was entrusting this to her?

Ling Xiao let go, “Is there anything else?”

He really didn’t have anyone else to help him with these things. Could he possibly rely on himself?

He could only hope that he would marry soon and then hand over all these things.

“No.” Yao took back the booklet and left.

Ling Xiao thought she would argue a bit more, but he didn’t expect her to agree so readily.

After leaving the study, Yao went to Steward Wang to arrange the banquets.

Mrs. Lin heard that she was going to host a banquet for the noble families in the capital, and she was very excited, “This way, all the noble girls will come to the banquet. It’ll be easier to choose a wife for Brother Ling, and maybe we can even arrange a betrothal and welcome a daughter-in-law into the family.”

Yao nodded, “Mother, don’t worry. Almost all the noble families in the capital will be at this banquet. We’ll definitely be able to choose a good daughter-in-law.”

Once a wife enters the family, she will be the official Military Marquis’s wife, and she will definitely have to take over the management of social interactions and banquets.

At this thought, Yao felt a surge of motivation.

Over the next few days, Yao was busy from morning till night. Such a grand banquet required a lot of preparation. Besides, the rules in the capital were far more complicated than in Xingfeng. Men and women sat separately, and there were also stage performances, decorations, and invitations. Every detail had to be taken care of.

Finally, the banquet at the Marquis’s Mansion was ready.

As soon as the sun rose, carriages and horses lined up outside the gate of the Marquis’s Mansion, and guests arrived one after another, presenting their visiting cards and entering the mansion.

The reason for the banquet was to celebrate the move to the new mansion, but it was just a pretext. It was also an opportunity for the noble families in the capital to visit the Ling Mansion.

The emperor had just ascended the throne, and the situation in the court was still unstable. The officials were naturally eager to visit the Ling Mansion to get a feel for the situation and build connections.

The banquet was held in the garden. The main hall was open, and it was the beginning of spring. The water in the pond shimmered, and the trees around the pond were in full bloom. A gentle breeze blew, carrying with it the sounds of laughter and conversation.

In the pavilion, Mrs. Lin sat in the seat of honor, with Yao beside her. The female guests had already arrived, and they were chatting with Mrs. Lin, creating a lively atmosphere.

“Old Madam, you are truly blessed. The Military Marquis is so brave and valiant, his reputation is known throughout the land. He quelled the rebellion, supported the emperor’s ascension to the throne, and these are all his achievements!” The noble wives flattered her enthusiastically.

Mrs. Lin smiled and nodded, “He’s been smart since he was young, and he’s always been the most filial son. He’s also been well-educated.”

“It’s all thanks to your guidance.”

“It’s nothing. It’s all thanks to him being so capable.” Mrs. Lin politely responded, but she was secretly pleased. Her son was so capable.

“These cakes are delicious. They’re sweet but not greasy. It’s the first time I’ve tasted something like this. Madam, who made them?”

Yao smiled shyly, “I brought a chef from Yunzhou. They make things differently in the capital, so I brought them here for you to try.”

“Madam is truly thoughtful! These cakes are delicious.”

Yao smiled and didn’t say anything else, but she was also a little nervous.

No wonder Ling Xiao had so casually entrusted her with the banquet arrangements. He was probably afraid that she would mess it up.

It turned out that she was only good enough to be a hostess. Everyone would be polite to her, but the success or failure of this banquet wouldn’t affect her in any way.

On the other side of the pond, a figure strolled along the boardwalk.

“This housewarming banquet is really lively. I heard that almost all the noble girls in the capital are here today. They’re all vying for the position of Military Marquis’s wife. You’re lucky, you have so many beautiful women to choose from.”

The speaker was wearing a long green robe and a jade crown, looking very noble.

“The palace is full of concubines. It’s not like I’m lacking in women,” Ling Xiao said calmly.

The Crown Prince’s face changed slightly, and he shook his head, “Don’t even mention it. Father is trying to stabilize the court, so he keeps sending women into the palace! And the Crown Princess’s temperament is…”

The Crown Prince’s life was full of wives and concubines, and things were still relatively harmonious. But now that the palace was filled with women, there were a lot of problems.

“Of course, I’m not like you. When I get married, I’ll marry whoever I want.”

The Crown Prince brought the topic back to the banquet, pointing towards the pavilion, “All the noble girls are here today. The only daughter of Minister Zhong is skilled in both calligraphy and painting. They say she’s the most talented woman in the capital. The daughter of General Zhao is skilled in swordsmanship and archery, she’s better than any man. And then there’s the daughter of Chancellor Chen, they say she’s as beautiful as a fairy. What do you think?”

Ling Xiao turned his head. The door to the pavilion was open, and the lively sounds of laughter and conversation could be heard inside.

He scanned the crowd, his gaze suddenly falling on a slender figure.

She was wearing a jade-green dress, her slender waist cinched in, her face lightly made up. She stood quietly beside Mrs. Lin, a faint smile on her lips. She was dressed simply, but she seemed even more beautiful than before.