I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 882: Mr. Tang Hosts a Banquet
"You...you really want to give the house back to our Yuan family?"

Su Yao stood with his hands behind his back, the afterglow of the setting sun gilding him:
"I always keep my word. Since Yuan Benchu ​​has invested so much money, giving away his beloved daughter and dowry, I should show some sincerity."

"This Yuan family ancestral house can be regarded as my betrothal gift."

"On behalf of the Yuan family, I, a humble girl, would like to thank Lord Tang for his great kindness!"

Yuan Xiaoyu's eyes instantly became moist and she was so excited that she could hardly control herself. She immediately took a half step back and was about to kneel down again.

"Miss Yuan, there is no need to do this. This house has a deep connection with the Yuan family. Now that it has been returned to its original owner, it can be considered a good story."

Su Yao held her and said gently:

"But this house has been idle for a long time, and many places need to be repaired. I have ordered people to prepare craftsmen and materials, and will start the work tomorrow so that Miss Yuan can live more comfortably here."

Yuan Xiaoyu raised her head suddenly, her eyes full of surprise: "Mr. Tang means..."

"Why, you don't want to?" Su Yao raised his lips slightly, "Or, Miss Yuan, do you want to live in my mansion right now?"

"No, no!" Yuan Xiaoyu's cheeks flushed and she waved her hands in panic, "I just... I just didn't expect Lord Tang to make such an arrangement."

Su Yao laughed: "Marriage is a big deal, Miss Yuan, don't be anxious."

"The banquet in three days will remain the same, and Your Majesty will be there, too. I hope you will arrive on time."

"Your Majesty?" Yuan Xiaoyu swallowed and her face suddenly became nervous when she heard that.

"Why, are you scared?" Su Yao looked at her with a smile.

Yuan Xiaoyu pursed her lips and whispered, "I am just worried that His Majesty might not like it."

Su Yao reached out and patted her shoulder gently: "Don't worry, our emperor is much more generous than you think. Besides..."

Su Yao paused, a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes: "She is quite curious about your 'sister'."

When Yuan Xiaoyu heard this, her ears turned red instantly.

She naturally understood the deeper meaning of Su Yao's words - if everything went well and the marriage was finalized, she would share a husband with the current emperor.

Thinking of this, she felt her heart beating like a drum and even her breathing became rapid.

"Well, it's getting late. I should go back now."

Su Yao stood up and looked at the sky. He saw that the sun was almost setting, with only a faint afterglow remaining on the horizon.

"I will send someone to pick you up in three days, remember to prepare well."

"I respectfully send Lord Tang off." Yuan Xiaoyu bowed quickly.

After Su Yao and the soldiers disappeared outside the courtyard gate, Yuan Xiaoyu breathed a sigh of relief, her legs went limp, and she collapsed to the ground.

This frightened Xiao Cui who was standing by. She quickly stepped forward to support him and exclaimed, "Miss, are you okay?"

Yuan Xiaoyu shook her head, but a complicated smile appeared on her face: "It's okay. I just didn't expect that Mr. Tang would be such a person."

Xiao Cui blinked curiously: "So what do you think of Mr. Tang compared to the rumors?"

Yuan Xiaoyu looked towards the gate and whispered, "Younger and more elusive."

She looked down at the wrist that Su Yao had supported just now. There seemed to be some warmth left there. "He knew that my father had ulterior motives in sending me here, but he still treated me with courtesy and even returned the ancestral home. I really don't know what he is up to."

"Miss, why do you have to think so much?" Xiao Cui said with a smile, "In my opinion, Mr. Tang is obviously interested in you! Otherwise, why would he come to see you in person and give you back the house?" Yuan Xiaoyu blushed and said angrily, "Don't talk nonsense!"

"Hurry up and get ready. I will be seeing His Majesty in three days, and I must not lose my manners."

"Mr. Tang, what do you think of this daughter of the Yuan family?"

On the way back home, Jia Xu asked Su Yao.

Su Yao rode on his horse with a distant gaze: "She is an interesting little girl, much simpler than I thought."

Jia Xu nodded thoughtfully: "Yuan Benchu ​​is indeed a beautiful girl with decent manners, worthy of being the daughter of a noble family. But it is hard to read a person's heart after meeting him once or twice. After all, she is still close to Lord Tang..."

"Wenhe, you worry too much." Su Yao chuckled, "Yuan Benchu ​​sent his daughter to Beijing just to buy time to develop his power. But what he didn't know was that times have changed, and now time is on our side."

He pulled the reins and looked towards the south: "Every day that passes, our new policies will be implemented one step further, and the people's loyalty will grow a little bit stronger. When the war in the south is settled and the country is united, what kind of trouble can a mere Yuan Shao cause?"

"Besides, he wants to use his own daughter as bait for me, but he doesn't know that people are not dead things and have their own thoughts. It is still unclear who will use this chess piece in the end."

"Even if we take a step back, this capital is my territory, and this mansion is full of our people. How can a little girl like him and those servants rebel?"

"That's why you returned this mansion to the Yuan family." Jia Xu narrowed his eyes slightly, and instantly understood Su Yao's deep meaning. "Not only did you do the Yuan family a huge favor, but you can also place our people there in the name of repairing and taking care of them to monitor the actions of the Yuan family's people who come to Beijing. It can be said that you kill two birds with one stone."

"The one who understands me is Wenhe."

Su Yao laughed and rode away.

Three days later, a grand banquet will be held at Tanggong Mansion in Luoyang.

Those present were all dignitaries in the capital. Not only was His Majesty the Emperor coming, but high-ranking officials from the three provinces and six ministries also came with their families. Even Su Yao's famous wives and concubines, such as Princess Yun of the Xiongnu and Lord Zhen Jiang of Zhongshan, were present.

The Tang Mansion was brightly lit, and the carved beams and painted buildings were hung with gorgeous silk ribbons, exuding an air of luxury. The musicians played melodious string music, and the dancers in gorgeous costumes danced in the center of the courtyard, their graceful figures like blooming flowers.

Yuan Xiaoyu entered the Tang Mansion accompanied by Xiao Cui.

She dressed up carefully today, wearing a moon-white long skirt embroidered with light pink crabapple flowers. The hem of her skirt fluttered in the wind, like a fairy descending from the earth. The jade hairpin and pearl hairpin on her bun set off each other, adding a touch of gentleness and moving, showing the heritage of the Yuan family, which has three officials for four generations.

However, the perfection of her dress could hardly conceal the anxiety in her heart.

Yuan Xiaoyu was only a fifteen-year-old girl after all. It was the first time for her to be alone in such a complicated and prestigious setting without her parents. She couldn't help feeling nervous, and her steps trembled slightly unconsciously.

As soon as she entered the banquet venue, everyone's eyes flooded towards her like a tide, and the sound of whispers continued:
"Look, that's the daughter Yuan Shao sent. She's really pretty."

"I didn't expect that Yuan Benchu ​​actually had such a precious daughter hidden away, and now she is going to be a concubine for Lord Tang. He really spent a lot of money."

"Indeed, but I heard that Lord Tang returned the Yuan family's ancestral home this time. Who knows how many reasons there are behind this."

Yuan Xiaoyu pretended to be calm, nodded slightly, and had a perfect smile on her face, but her hands tightly clenched at the corners of her clothes revealed her inner panic.

Seeing this, Xiao Cui whispered in her ear: "Don't be afraid, young lady. You are as beautiful as a fairy today. You will surely dazzle everyone."

Yuan Xiaoyu nodded slightly, took a deep breath, secretly cheered herself up, and looked around, trying to find that familiar figure.

At this moment, a majestic and solemn sound of bells and drums suddenly rang out, followed by the attendants singing loudly:
"Your Majesty is here!"

In an instant, the originally bustling banquet scene suddenly became quiet. Everyone lined up and knelt in unison to salute. Yuan Xiaoyu also hurriedly knelt down, her heart pounding like thunder and beads of sweat oozing from her forehead.

Soon after, she heard footsteps in front of her. She raised her eyes slightly and saw a woman in a gorgeous red dragon robe, surrounded by a group of guards and palace maids, walking towards her with great grace.
(End of this chapter)