CHAPTER 159: CHAPTER 157: MAKING A FUSS

Song Xian asked this, even the servant beside him was stunned for a moment before timidly repeating, "Master, did you just say... you want a new robe?"

The servant was afraid he misheard.

"Yes." Song Xian hummed a sound from his nose.

The servant quickly replied, "There are, there are... but they’re all... all the usual blue ones you wear."

The Master likes to wear dark clothes, the blue is darker than official robes, and over the years, it’s always been this color. Previously, Old Mrs. Song would arrange for new robes in other colors, but the Master refused to wear them, so Old Mrs. Song let him be.

"New ones are fine," Song Xian said, "inside and outside must be brand new." He didn’t see anything wrong with it, as long as new ones looked better, he thought.

The servant responded, seeing the Master’s serious demeanor, he thought...

Song Xian thought again, "It needs to be neat, choose the best one..."

Even in this lifetime, it’s nearly been twenty years, combined with the previous life, it’s much more; Song Xian never struggled this much over a single piece of clothing.

In the past, he didn’t care about the style of clothes, whatever he wore was simple, and previously, he wore armor most frequently. Later on, spending his days in the military camp, such thoughts never crossed his mind.

Cheng Yanzhao sometimes mentioned to him what clothes to choose and what styles look good; troublesome and useless, he naturally disliked Cheng Er for it.

Now he regrets not listening carefully.

Maybe, call Cheng Yanzhao over to ask?

Song Xian shivered involuntarily; was he crazy? In the middle of the night, not reviewing documents, not pondering over maps, not going out to train troops, yet thinking about this?

He’s certainly not going to ask Cheng Yanzhao; previously, Cheng Yanzhao came up with a bad idea to please Old Mrs. Chen, which he paid no mind to.

Cheng Er’s ideas, in the end, are useless; when it comes to brains, can he match Cheng Er?

Song Xian contemplated for a long time, solemnly saying to the servant, "Choose the best-looking one, bring it to me to try."

The servant felt a rush of blood to his head, feeling trusted and entrusted by the Master, he responded and quickly walked to the east room, opening all the chests in one go.

"The best-looking one."

The servant lit five lamps in the room and looked carefully, yet just a glance brought cold sweat to his forehead, the rush of blood suddenly gathered in his throat, wishing to spit it out.

All the robes were identical.

Which one looks good?

The newly made robes seemingly having identical stitches.

Which one is best-looking?

Thinking of the Master sitting in the room, waiting for him to bring it over to try, the servant was close to tears.

Master, this is no different from changing clothes every morning, what are you expecting?

Just imagining the Master not sleeping in the middle of the night, with such dedication, even he felt sorrow.

Switching back and forth, turning everything upside down, even if the Master didn’t change clothes for several days, no one would doubt.

Chang An instructed the chef well, turning around and returning to the house, seeing the Master pacing inside wearing the robe.

Chang An just wanted to ask the servant what happened in such a short time, when Song Xian turned and looked at him, "Does it look good?"

Chang An’s heart skipped a beat; he was too busy to remind the Prefecture to make several different styles of robes, although the Master usually doesn’t wear them, now the Master acts unpredictably, who can say...

Wouldn’t this be the outcome?

Chang An wished to smack himself; if Chang Yue were here, he’d be slightly more at ease, all these details could be attended to.

"Master," Chang An said, "how about I have the embroideresses get up and make a different color of robe overnight? If rushing for tailoring is unmanageable, I’ll go to the city embroidery workshop to find pre-cut fabric. No matter whom it’s prepared for, I can get it."

Song Xian looked at Chang An, "Didn’t you all say no one looks better in blue than I do?"

Chang An had said such words before, but they were mere flattery.

Song Xian asked, "Fake?"

Chang An said, "Not fake, but since it’s New Year, maybe brighter colors would be better."

Song Xian didn’t care about New Year or not, he just wanted to look good.

"Find a Jade Pendant!" Song Xian recalled the pendant he got from Xie Liangchen; he originally wanted to wear it, but considering her unclear background, wearing it might unsettle her.

Next, the crown on his head, boots, socks, all were personally inspected by Song Xian; after selecting these items, he went into the inner room to rest.

Before sleeping, Song Xian glanced again at the new robe on the rack, his lips inadvertently curved.

During the vigil night, surely she would be happy in her heart; should he take the chance to say something different? After all, having gone through so much together, he would seem different from what he used to be in her eyes now.

The next day, as soon as Old Mrs. Song finished freshening up, Song Xian went over to greet her.

Old Mrs. Song glanced over her grandson, "You really work too hard, your father isn’t in Dingzhou, you still have to look after affairs there.

Changed into a new robe?"

Upon hearing this, Chang An sighed, indeed, the matron didn’t notice.

The Master got up early and spent an hour getting dressed...

Alas, all efforts went down the drain.

Don’t blame others; you’d need exceptional eyesight to tell!

Old Mrs. Song chatted with Song Xian for a while before promptly saying, "Today, I plan to go to the Chen Family Village for the vigil night, shortly I’ll distribute the rewards to the household stewards and servants; without your father and Song Min having an incident too, we won’t be holding a banquet at home, which saves the trouble."

After finishing, Old Mrs. Song looked at Song Xian, "You haven’t been home for New Year before, if you need to prepare a banquet over there, people can be deployed from home, if your courtyard isn’t big enough, find another place."

Song Xian said, "Indeed, my courtyard is insufficient; knowing grandmother is going to Chen Family Village, I’ve also arranged the household generals to go along, fearing the village can’t manage preparing so much food, thus bringing chefs from home; this year, I’ll accompany grandmother for the vigil night."

Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Song was moved, "Alright, then we’ll go to the Chen Family Village together." She didn’t want to remain at home, yesterday Mrs. Rong came to greet her with swollen eyes, even though she’s come to terms that Song Min’s current plight is all his own doing, her mood involuntarily fluctuated.

Xian would not feel comfortable returning home for New Year.

Let’s just go out together.

"Alright," Old Mrs. Song said, "First distribute silver coins to everyone, if they are joyful, then it’ll indeed be New Year."

Having arranged everything at home, Old Mrs. Song sat in the carriage, Song Xian followed on horseback.

The two of them left the city and headed to Chen Family Village.

From afar, several silhouettes could be seen standing at the village entrance, Song Xian scanned his gaze, but didn’t see the one he wanted to meet.

Logically, she should have come.

Song Xian pondered this, continuing forward, just as he was about to dismount, Xie Liangchen hurriedly came out.

Song Xian moved more swiftly, the crowd only saw a blur as General Song leaped off the horse.

Turning to assist Old Mrs. Song, Song Xian discreetly tidied his long robe, smoothing out some creases, then got surrounded by people leading into the village.