Chapter 346 - The Ling Familys Arrival in the Capital City (1/2)

In the next few days, Miao s.h.i.+ba still, on a daily basis, reported to Yuwen Tong everything Ling Zhang did. Meanwhile, every day Ling Zhang still ate three meals with Yuwen Tong. Every night Yuwen Tong came back from the consultation hall very late and could see without fail that Ling Zhang had been waiting for him all along. On one occasion, when Yuwen Tong returned, he walked in without having a guard pa.s.s word of his presence and found Ling Zhang giving huge yawns, his eyes watering from drowsiness caused by the long wait. At the sight of him entering, Ling Zhang immediately rose to his feet and made towards him.

Sometimes Ling Zhang went to the consultation hall to deliver some late-night snack to him and then stayed there to help him sort memorials to the throne.

“A staff member of the Ministry of Rites paid Childe Ling a visit during the day to deliver to him a thick pile of pamphlets about the ritualistic rigmarole of the wedding ceremony. After reading them, Childe Ling wanted a couple of the steps omitted, saying that they were too time-consuming and cost too much money, that right now the imperial court needed money to help the people restore their lives and he should cut down the expense as much as he could,” Miao s.h.i.+ba reported to Yuwen Tong.

“He’s consulted with the Ministry of Rites about it already?” asked Yuwen Tong.

“Not yet. There are too many of the formalities, and Childe Ling has no acquaintance with any of them, so it took him quite some time to familiarize himself with them. He hasn’t found the time to confer with the Ministry of Rites yet. Currently, staff members of the Ministry of Rites are occupied with the preparatory work for your enthronement. As far as I could tell, Childe Ling seems to intend to wait until after the enthronement to discuss it with people of the Ministry of Rites,” answered Miao s.h.i.+ba.

Miao s.h.i.+ba cast a look at Yuwen Tong and then continued, “In the past couple of days Childe Ling has been bustling around from dim dawn to dark. What with the tons of ch.o.r.es in the imperial palace and the wedding preparations, he couldn’t hardly spare any time to rest, except when he dines with you at dinner time. There has been nothing out of the ordinary about Childe Ling over the last few days. With all due respect, I don’t think Childe Ling is keeping anything back from you, Sire.”

Yuwen Tong’s countenance remained unchanged. He just flicked Miao s.h.i.+ba a glance.

Miao s.h.i.+ba hurriedly bowed his head, breaking out in a cold sweat.

But Yuwen Tong didn’t reprove him. He just told him matter-of-factly, “All you need to do is continue to keep watch on him.”

“Yes, Sire,” Miao s.h.i.+ba hastily answered.

Yuwen Tong followed Miao s.h.i.+ba with his eyes as he left. He was not angry with Miao s.h.i.+ba for his taking the liberty of making that comment. Miao s.h.i.+ba was his personal bodyguard and was supposed to obey every order from him, but Yuwen Tong also hoped his bodyguards would care about Ling Zhang just as much and bear Ling Zhang’s safety in mind all the time. As a result, Yuwen Tong wasn’t annoyed about Miao s.h.i.+ba’s attempt to defend Ling Zhang. He just wondered what Ling Zhang was concealing from him exactly.

Ling Zhang was indeed very tired due to the hectic schedule. At this moment he was fast asleep, unaware of what Yuwen Tong had left to do after he drifted off. When Yuwen Tong returned to the bed and took him in his arms, Ling Zhang just subconsciously wriggled in Yuwen Tong’s embrace, s.h.i.+fting into a more comfortable lying position, snoring lightly, bearing a similarity to Whitie the fox in its sleep. Yuwen Tong planted a kiss on his cheek.

…

Yuwen Tong worked day and night in the consultation hall for ten solid days before he finally had all the pressing state affairs settled. Governors of the many prefectures were coming into the capital city one after another. The Wan Kingdom’s and the Luohai Kingdom’s replies had also arrived, both saying they would send some top-ranking officials and imperial family members to attend the wedding ceremony. It was at this point in time that members of the Ling family arrived in the capital city.

On this day, Yuwen Tong specially cleared his morning and went to the city gates with Ling Zhang to meet the Ling family.

There were five horse-drawn carriages, escorted by over thirty armed guards. It was quite a big team.

“Grandfather.”

“Old Master Ling.”

Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong bowed to Ling Xingzhong with hands folded in front when he had got out of the carriage. Ling Xingzhong hastened to raise Yuwen Tong. “I’m far from deserving of this level of formality from you. Please rise.”

Yuwen Tong and Ling Zhang straightened themselves at the same time, standing shoulder to shoulder. Ling Xingzhong looked at him, appearing sentimentally gratified.

“How are you feeling, Grandfather? Did they drive too fast? Are you having any discomfort?” Ling Zhang asked him.

Ling Xingzhong patted his hand and replied, “I’m fine. At my advanced age as I am, a journey like this won’t break me. On our way here, your uncle and the others had the drivers drive slowly. I was anxious to see you and wanted them to pick up speed, but they disagreed.”

Holding Ling Xingzhong’s arm to support him, Ling Zhang studied his countenance. At the sight of the weariness on his face, Ling Zhang came to know that the journey had been an ordeal for the old man. Feeling a mixture of guilt and heartache, he said, “Let’s go into the city right away.”

Ling Xingzhong smiled, “There’s no hurry. Greet your uncle and the others first.”

At this time Ling Zhaowen also got out of his carriage, followed by Fu Caiwei and Ling Maomao, so Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong walked up to them.

Ling Zhaowu took Ling Zhang’s place, supporting Ling Xingzhong. “Father,” he said.

Considering him, Ling Xingzhong asked, “How have you been? You look better than the last time I saw you.”

Ling Zhaowu, somewhat guilty about his aged father having to worry about him due to his physical condition, answered, “With Mr. Mu treating me, I couldn’t have been unhealthy even if I wanted myself to be. Now I can run as fast as and jump as high as the next man, so there’s no need for you to worry about me. I haven’t been able to stay in Tanyang to keep you company, and neither was I among the team escorting you to this city. I’m an unfilial son.”

Ling Xingzhong shook his head. “I’m not really in desperate need of your company. It’s not like I’m dying or something. Nursing yourself back to health is the best way for you to show me your filial affection.”

Ling Zhaowu felt even more terrible after hearing these words.

On the other side, Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong greeted Ling Zhaowen and Fu Caiwei. Ling Zhang held out his hand to Ling Maomao, who stepped over and took it.

“Uncle, Aunt, you and Grandfather must be tired after such a long journey. Let’s enter the city first, shall we? Maomao will be going with me.”

Naturally, Ling Zhaowen and Fu Caiwei agreed. If truth be told, Ling Zhaowen felt quite flattered, for Yuwen Tong’s status was different now, but he had still personally come to the city gates to meet them.

Ling Zhaowu accompanied Ling Xingzhong into a carriage. Ling Zhang, after walking Ling Zhaowen and Fu Caiwei into their carriage, scooped up Ling Maomao to put him into the saddle on Snowflake the horse, and then mounted her and looked at Yuwen Tong.