Night of Laughter

"Mom, where's Xue?" Madam Chen sat on the pavilion in her garden, the servants paid courtesy to the young general who rudely interrupted his mother's tea time.

"Calm down boy. Your girl isn't going anywhere, she's just touring around the city with her servants." His mom handed the empty cup to Gu mama who quickly filled the cup with tea once again.

Tang Xuan sat at an empty seat across his mother and the servants filled his cup with the technique they've practiced hundred of times.

"She's a kind girl, isn't she?" Seeing her quiet son, she quickly asked.

"She is. And she is the girl I love." Tang Xuan answered without a doubt.

"But she isn't the girl you should love." His mother said suggestively. Eventhough she never control her son around in the past, the promise of engagement between her son and the daughter of the prime minister, Li Chang Er is still a promise.

There's almost no way to break that promise, especially with the reason being her son falling in love with other girl.

"I never said a thing in the past because I respect you and I respect father and I don't have anyone I love back then but now... I love Xue, mom, can't you understand that?" Tang Xuan forced himself to keep calm. He never cared about the promise, when he was young, all he thought about marriage was responsibility and power.

"I understand that, however there's a responsibility you need to fulfill. You can't just break a promise, especially a promise with the prime minister." Her mom held his hand and tried to convince him.

"Mom, you always told me to do what I want to do, to follow my heart and now I'm doing it mom. I want my future to be happy, not to be powerful. Father's a duke and If he's still alive, he will call me to marry who I love. Because he lived a happy life with the person he love mother." Tang Xuan held his mother's hand tighter.

"You aren't giving up, are you?" Madam Chen said sighing. Tang Xuan didn't say a word ans simply looked at her eyes.

"You've always been a stubborn kid... Fine, you do what you want. No matter what happen, remember Manor of Tang wang will always be with you."

---

"Hua, did they just jump over the fire? That's so cool!" Tang Xue have spent the last 6 months in the desert, a rainforest, a desserted city with soldiers and the medic team, it's really good to finally see what the capital city look like.

"Miss, I think we should go home now. The time is late now and the tailor will come soon." Hua informed her.

"Let's go then." Hua led Tang Xue back to Tang Manor safely. The guards by the door quickly paid respect to the young miss the general brought home yesterday.

"Xue." Tang Xuan approached her. He just finished his practice and was still holding his sword.

"How was the capital city?" He asked. Back in the camp, the soldiers would always talk about the capital city and the bustling street and Tang Xue would always listen to them with wonders.

"It was so cool. Everything was exactly like what like they said. The streets were filled with vendors and lots of kids were running around and I saw a brothel too, just like whta the soldiers said. It was coverrd in red clothes and lots of beautiful women stood at the balcony and called out to man walking past the building. It was so funny seeing the men getting embarrassed." Tang Xue told him all the things she saw.

"A brothel? That is usually located far from the main street. How did you go there Xue?" Tang Xuan shook his head helplessly looking at the slim woman beside him.

"Hehe, I asked Hua to bring me to fun places of course." She giggled and walked off saying she needed to get ready for the tailor.

As she walked away, a soldier rushed toward Tang Xuan and whispered to his ears. Tang Xuan face darkened when the soldier finish whispering and excuse himself off.

He held the sword on his hand tighter and walked away to his room slamming the door in process.

---

"Miss, your skin is so soft and white. I think this shade of blue will suit you." The tailor said, she measured Xue's body and held out a Pattens Blue shade.

"The color is so beautiful. You sure it will suit me?" Tang Xue softly felt the clothe.

"Paired with white clothe and white embroidery as well as some simple but elegant accessories, that will sure so you justice." The tailor then called a girl.

"This ya tou will be your hairdresser, she's an excellent hairdresser, so you don't have to worry about your hair." The hairdresser then took out a wooden box out.

"I'm usually called Jia Rui. You can just call me by that name." She paid courtesy to Xue and stood beside the tailor.

"I see, then Jia rui... I will count on you." She smiled brightly.

"So, the first dress is white and blue with some white colored embroidery. It will be super beautiful. I can't wait to go home and make the dress." The tailor said.

"Then for the second dress, how about this purple?" The tailor took out another clothe. This time a pastel color purple.

"That will be fine with me."

---

The night came and the tailor went home.

Hua informed Xue that the dinner was ready and they headed to the main hall together.

"Jie jie!" Tang Ning ran from her mother's hand and jumped to Tang Xue who quickly hugged her.

"How have you been, ning?" Tang Xue patted her head and brought her down.

"Sit down now, the dinner is ready." Madam Chen called.

Tang Xuan walked into the room with his usual cold face. He handed his sword to his servants and sat down as well.

"Did the emperor call you just now?" Madam Chen asked.

"En." Tang Xuan answered with a nod.

"What did he talk about?" Madam Chen took a tofu and put it on Tang Ning's bowl.

"He said he will give the title 'Tang wang' at the banquet tomorrow.

"How dare he-" Looking at Tang Ning who was chewing her food slowly, madam Chen stopped her mouth from cursing.

"The prince are fighting for the throne now and he dare to make you a wang? Is he trying to involve tou in the fight for the crown now?" Madam Chen stopped her eating.

"Don't worry mom, I have a solution for this. But I will have to be away for a few months." Tang Xuan reassured his mom.

"You mean... you're going away to avoid the fight?" Madam Chen asked. She has been involved on the battlefield of words and wits ever since she was young. She knew what a simple information could lead to.

"Yes. I'm planning to go north. To Han wang land with the reason to help him defend himself fron the bandits." He looked at Xue who has been hearing theit conversation for a while.

"Xue is coming of course, she will be there as my strategist." He said.

"I know. But do you have to go? You just came home after a year and now you're going again?" His mom said sadly.

"It can't be help mom. You need to stay here to protect our name and I need to go there to protect our lives from being targets of the princes."

Madam Chen signalled the servants to bring in the desserts. Looking at the Madam signal, the servants quickly moved to bring the colorful desserts of jellies and sweet cakes.

"Fine, go. I will take care of the things here. Just be safe. Alright?"

"Alright mom." Madam Chen looked at her only son, her son who was running around the manor chaisng the butterflies seem to have dissapear, he's all grown up now.

The heavy conversation ended and a new topic was brought up and so the night ended with the Tang's family laughter filling the manor.