Chapter Ch52.1 - I Am Simply the Marshal’s Wife

Translator: Callis

Editor: Walker

After sleeping in his study for an entire night, Zong He, who had been aching all over, went downstairs only to see a nervous Tang Wan. He said disapprovingly: “You can go if you want to, and don’t go if you don’t want to. There’s nothing to be worried about.”

Tang Wan was still worried, “It’s not good like this. The main point was to invite me to get to know β Ursae Minoris’ n.o.bility. As a leading role, if I don’t go, I won’t be giving the Empress any face.”

Zong He still kept his manner, “There’s nothing bad about that. The Empress isn’t a narrow-minded person. Look at you.”

Tang Wan was at a loss, “If I go this time, would all of the n.o.bles recognize me?”

Zong He suddenly changed his att.i.tude, “Then go. It would be a perfect time for you to announce your status and tell everyone that this is what the Marshal’s wife looks like. You don’t need to guess any more.”

Tang Wan: “……”

“You were married off to me when I was still a handicapped person. Don’t we have a couple’s deep feelings?”

Tang Wan was unhappy, “I don’t understand what you’re trying to show off.”

Zong He unyieldingly responded, “Humans truly are hard to understand.”

Tang Wan’s lips twitched and his gaze was increasingly unhappy, “I truly don’t understand big cats. Little cats are better.”

Zong He’s expression chilled, “Are you talking about Da Zhuang again?”

Tang Wan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Don’t be so sensitive, I didn’t say anything.”

Tang Wan looked at Zong He’s solemn gaze and suddenly wanted to laugh, “Pfft! You want to save face too much! I really didn’t say anything!” Zong He angrily went downstairs. The more Tang Wan spoke, the more Zong He felt that the person who was correct was himself.

Tang Wan sighed, his old ancestors weren’t lying. Big cats and little cats were hard to raise.

Since he couldn’t hide, he had to summon up the courage to partic.i.p.ate. Ji Yan quickly hurried and went to prepare Tang Wan’s formal attire for the dinner banquet, and Lin Bo gave him the gift he needed to bring.

Tang Wan looked around again, but there was nothing he could help with. He simply summoned the kitten army and started a live broadcast: “Come and pet them!”

For petting cats, it didn’t matter what time it was, the audience wouldn’t dislike it. At this time, a familiar ID popped out, and a row of rewards came flooding in. Tang Wan was shocked: “Crazy Luo Bei, did you truly not make a mistake? How are you so enthusiastic today?”

Crazy Luo Bei: Not a mistake, Gē. I hope you’re doing well. I’m giving you money so you can buy things for yourself.

Tang Wan laughed. From this, he had truly misunderstood him. This child wasn’t poor, but could earn a lot, “I’m not your Gēge. Wouldn’t it be better for you to simply buy a gift for your Gē?”

Crazy Luo Bei: No, my Gk113; definitely wouldn’t want it.

It wouldn’t be good for Tang Wan to meddle in other’s personal affairs, “Then I can only accept it. Thank you for the rewards.”

After chatting with his fans for a while, Tang Wan logged off at noon and went to make lunch. Zong He found him in the kitchen and saw that he had made a good number of dishes. He doubtfully asked: “Your mood is unexpectedly so good?”

“En!” Tang Wan happily said: “I was rewarded a lot of money by a nouveau riche this morning. I got rich, and I’m in a good mood so I made more delicious things.”

Zong He frowned, “……they didn’t have good intentions!”

Tang Wan placed the meat onto the pan, “You’re also jealous about this?”

Zong He humph’d, “Of course, those who dare to fool around with you will all be killed.”

Tang Wan rolled his eyes, jealous cat!

In the afternoon, his clothing arrived. Tang Wan tried it on. This seemed like the army’s formal attire, but it was unexpectedly made to fit his body well and the measurements were correct. The creamy white color paired well with his skin tone. This style was very fitting for someone’s painting.

Zong He, who was standing next to him, reminded: “The family members of soldiers can’t dress like the n.o.bles. We can’t be informal.”

Tang Wan pursed his lips, “So even the neck has to be bound so tightly?”

Zong He’s expression was solemn, “Yes.”

Tang Wan didn’t have a choice, “Okay, I’ll listen to you.”

If this vinegary cat was put into a pot, he wouldn’t need any seasoning to make a plate of sweet-and-sour cat.

In the evening, Zong He personally accompanied Tang Wan to the Imperial Palace. WIth Ji Yan by Tang Wan’s side, he wouldn’t be wronged, “I’ll find and speak to my cousin. After a while, I’ll come pick you up. If you don’t want to talk to them, you don’t need to talk to them. I already told my cousin to not let you speak too much to those people. It’s alright if you just sip some tea and eat some refreshments.”

Tang Wan took advantage of Ji Yan checking the environment outside to cup Zong He’s face and give him a quick kiss, “Relax, I’m yours. Who dares to disrespect you?”

Zong He raised his eyebrow, “Mine?”

Tang Wan pinched the big cat’s cheek, “Yes, yours. Remember to pick me up later. I’m going.”

Zong He watched Tang Wan leave. Suddenly, he wondered if Tang Wan had been hinting something?

The matter of Zong He’s visit to the Duke’s residence couldn’t be concealed from the Imperial family. On β Ursae Minoris, the Imperial investigator wasn’t a useless person. Zong He concealed it from the Empire’s citizens and n.o.bles, saving them a lot of trouble and the Imperial investigator didn’t care at all about it. Zong He looked forward to Duke Tang’s misfortune. He almost strutted in and told the Emperor: This is my partner, you took in a fake!

In the morning, when she had discovered the reason for Zong He’s visit, the typically graceful and calm Empress was furious, “This engagement is canceled. Using a fake to fool us for so many years, and that one is even born from an affair!” The Empress was actually a very generous person, the kind that could balance a bowl of water in her hands. Even if she couldn’t see eye-to-eye with a child from an affair, if she had known before that Duke Tang was keeping a little lover outside, she would have had to rethink allowing the child to be the Crown Princess.

Then the Crown Prince smiled consolingly, “If we take the initiative to withdraw from the engagement, wouldn’t it be telling everyone that we married a fake? Besides, could it be that you want me to fight with my uncle? I would die.”

The Empress was teased by these words, and much of her anger dissipated. She wearily said: “Tang Wan is already married. This type of thing can’t be spread outside. There really needs to be a reason for canceling the engagement.” She looked at her nonchalant son, “Do you like the Crown Princess?”

The Crown Prince laughed indifferently: “Haha.”

The Empress could tell that her son didn’t like him.

This engagement must be dissolved. How it would be dissolved would depend on how tactful the Tang Family would be.

That night, seeing Tang Wan enter the large banquet hall with a waiter showing the way, the Empress did not go down. She stood upstairs with narrowed eyes, quietly observing him. The corners of her lips couldn’t help but curve up. From his external appearance, Tang Wan had a smile on his face, seeming cultured and refined. His gaze was mild and polite, but he kept a proper distance away from everyone. He truly wasn’t the bewitching little vixen Madam Zong had spoken about.

Disregarding what background he had come from, Tang Wan’s words were natural and unrestrained. In the face of so many n.o.bles, there wasn’t a place where he was lacking in manners. No one could say that he was brainless and only knew how to act coquettishly. With a smile, the Empresses recorded this moment and sent it to Madam Zong: Because you vented at me, they deliberately angered you. See for yourself, this is your Zong family’s little Fūrén’s true face. You stole something good!

When she said this, the Empress’s heart ached. This clearly was her family’s child!

The Empress looked at the Crown Prince, who was standing beside a window. The other was sticking a finger out to move the windchimes on the windowsill. His beautiful heterochromatic eyes gradually narrowed to slits. It was a mystery what he was thinking. The Empress sighed regretfully. This Tang Wan could have such a bearing without any training. If he had been provided with a Crown Princess’s resources, this child would have absolutely been a perfect Empress who could help Carlos hold up half the sky. This perfect Crown Princess candidate and Carlos were unexpectedly destined to meet, but not fated to be together. It really was a pity.

In short, the Empress’s anger towards Duke Tang had increased greatly again.

Soon, Tang Wan was surrounded by people and nearly all of the n.o.bles knew what the Marshal’s wife looked like. Only then did the Empress come down from the second floor to rescue Tang Wan from the crowd, “As family members, since we’re meeting for the first time, we should have a proper talk. Everyone can chat first, I’m taking this person away.”

n.o.body dared to stop her and politely opened up a path. They watched Tang Wan being pulled upstairs by the graceful Empress.

The n.o.bles who were friends gathered in small groups of three or four and whispered, “The Marshal’s wife is really good-looking. Supposedly, the pure Asian beauties’ background aren’t very good, but that can’t be seen from his mannerisms.”

“He looks a bit like the Crown Princess, and his surname is also Tang.”

“So, when the Crown Princess is mourning his mother, the Empress not only did not care or ask questions, she also personally threw a banquet. Doesn’t this go against common sense?”

“Shhh! Speak less and ask less!”

……

Tang Wan sat beside a window on the second floor. In this position, he could see all of the n.o.bles below. He could also see the garden outside, his view was expansive and he was sitting comfortably. The Empress had deliberately found this seat for him.

The Empress took the refreshment that the maid offered and enthusiastically said: “Taste this snack, I made it myself. Call Zong He up later, so that we can share a meal as a family.”

The Empress’s appearance was gentle and pleasant. With just a glance, he could tell that she would be an easy person to get along with. Tang Wan smiled and thanked her. She truly deserved to be called the mother of a country. She could comfort people with her words.

“The main purpose of today’s banquet is for you to get to know every major n.o.ble’s family. You don’t have to communicate with them, but you should know who they are, so that you won’t offend them if you meet in the future.” The Empress smiled at Tang Wan and calmly introduced them one at a time. Tang Wan ate the snacks while he was memorizing people. It didn’t matter if they were male or female, he memorized them all.

In this time, they had managed to clear this many n.o.bles without mentioning the issue with Duke Tang’s family at all. Tang Wan calmly sipped a mouthful of tea. Tsk, the Imperial family already knew. The Empress’s ability to concentrate and her boldness was admirable. Had Zong He gone looking for his cousin for this matter?

Nearly half an hour later, Tang Wan was still talking to the Empress, and had already figured out all of the powers. At this time, Zong He, an uncle, and young heterochromatic-eyed Crown Prince came up to the second floor together. The Empress stood up with a smile, “Let’s go. We’ll let them speak leisurely and then we can go eat.”

Tang Wan stifled his laugh. This Empress was very interesting. She didn’t care if she abandoned them?

Zong He walked towards Tang Wan and pulled on his wrist. His eyes were gentle as he asked: “We’ll leave after the meal?”

Tang Wan smiled, “I’ll listen to you.”

He had also determined that Zong He and the Imperial family’s relationship was very good. Then, when he thought of how he had misunderstood the Emperor’s infidelity, Tang Wan felt guilty. Fortunately, he now knew the truth. Otherwise, his mouth would be saying one thing while he would be madly cursing the other in his heart. He would be very sorry.

With a simple meal, the atmosphere was very harmonious. The Emperor really did look at Zong He like he was looking at an older son. He must share a drink with Zong He. Seeing that he was in good health, his eyes curved up happily with his smile, always wanting to pat Zong He’s shoulder. Zong He’s temperament was a little cold, but was helpless under his cousin’s gaze. He was even a little unhappy; when the other leaned over, he would shrink away. He just wanted to pour wine for the other and let him eat and drink and not spew nonsense.

The Crown Prince helped his uncle drag his father back, also with a face of helplessness.

Watching from the side, Tang Wan thought it was delightful.

The Empress gently told Tang Wan: “Their relationship is very good. During the time Zong He was injured, your cousin couldn’t sleep for several days. Carlos kept saying that Zong He had only been injured to save him. To save this son, the other had been sacrificed.”

Zong He unhappily raised his gla.s.s and poured its contents down his cousin’s throat, “I’m not your son, you’re not that old. Drink more and talk less.”

Tang Wan looked at Zong He’s curved lips and he also smiled. Fortunately, Zong He still had a family. His mother wasn’t reliable, but the Imperial family treated him very well.

The Crown Prince was sitting at the side, entirely with the att.i.tude of a younger generation. He didn’t speak much until he finished his meal. Only then did he glance at Tang Wan and coincidentally, Tang Wan was also looking at him. The two pairs of eyes were staring at the other. Tang Wan smiled, not speaking to him.

Carlos asked with a smile in his eyes: “I heard that you lost your memories?”

Tang Wan nodded, “En, I forgot everything I was supposed to forget and everything I wasn’t supposed to forget. I don’t plan on treating it.”

Carlos laughed, “Truly, there are some things that are better off being forgotten. If it’s forgotten, then leave it be.”

Zong He had already poured drinks for his cousin. Though he hadn’t drunk much, he was still a little tipsy. He narrowed his eyes and watched Tang Wan and Carlos speak. He was a little upset. Tang Wan was afraid that his next words would be to send the Crown Prince away. He quickly turned around and asked, concerned, “You didn’t drink that much right?”

Zong He shook his head and look at his cousin, who was already lying down on the table, sleeping, and said bluntly: “Didn’t drink a lot.”

Tang Wan pursed his lips and almost laughed out loud. If he took a picture of this and uploaded it to the Internet, he didn’t know how much interest it would rouse. As he thought of this, Tang Wan quickly shook his head. He couldn’t be such a devil, he needed to be a good man!

Can we count this as a dinner date? ヽ(ﾟДﾟ)ﾉ

Bonus ko-fi chapter!!