Chapter 154: News From Before The New Year
The Ji Ying case made the time before the new year bustling and lively, but for many families, they didn’t care about these matters, as they had nothing to do with them.
Accompanied by the crackling sound of firecrackers, the Jiang Family courtyard house also transmitted crackling quarreling voices.
“Why is this wine money not right?”
“This is the wine for sacrificing to the Jiang Family ancestors! I know best what the Jiang Family people like to drink! It has to be this kind! It’s just that expensive!”
“Oh heavens, ancestors look, we have done our utmost for the Jiang Family, yet they only care about their own money and think we are greedy—”
“Eldest sister-in-law, Duke Yongwu’s Mansion marrying A Rui is just because of the marriage contract. Even if you send all the Jiang Family’s money as dowry, they still won’t think highly of our Jiang Family.”
“Don’t bully my mother! Eat my sword!”
“Ouch, you little girl! Get away—eventually you’ll be water splashed out! What does it have to do with my Jiang Family!”
“A Meng—”
“Second uncle and second aunt, stop making a fuss. We won’t check the account book anymore, take it, take it—”
Zhu Yunxiao stood outside the Jiang Family doorway. The tall courtyard walls and heavy main gate could not block the quarreling voices coming from inside. He looked up at the two majestic characters on the imperial-granted plaque, wondering if they had forgotten to repaint this year, as they appeared somewhat dull.
A trace of mockery flashed at the corner of Zhu Yunxiao’s mouth.
“Young Lord Zhu is here.”
A greeting voice came from behind.
The Jiang Family had an imperial-granted courtyard house, and the nearby families were either rich or noble.
Zhu Yunxiao turned around, lowered his eyebrows and eyes, and raised his hand in salute to the neighbors coming out on both sides to hang peach charms: “Please bear with us neighbors and take good care of them.”
The neighbors all returned the salute: “Young Lord,” “Is the Duke well?” “Congratulations on Young Lord’s promotion.” “Truly, a tiger father has no dog son.”
The laughter and chatter covered the quarreling inside until the door was opened by someone.
“Son-in-law.”
The doorkeeper smiled obsequiously.
Inside, Jiang Rui was also hurrying over.
“Why come at this time?” She squeezed out a smile and asked.
“I can’t spend the new year at home this year, so I specially came back to see today, and will leave tomorrow.” Zhu Yunxiao said, gesturing to the servants behind him, “My mother asked to send some festival gifts.”
Jiang Rui hurriedly said: “Auntie already sent some earlier.”
Zhu Yunxiao smiled: “Who says you can’t send twice?” Then he lowered his voice, “These are clothes and jewelry specially for you and A Meng to use for the new year.”
Jiang Rui looked at him, her eyes turning red, her expression aggrieved yet grateful.
Zhu Yunxiao didn’t let her say more and went in with her. The doorkeeper and the servants hiding in the courtyard rushed forward to receive the gifts, but were driven away by Zhu Yunxiao’s servants…
The neighbors outside the door watched this scene, their expressions envious yet regretful.
“What a fine young lord.”
“Miss Jiang is so fortunate. No father, but she has a good husband.”
“Once they marry, Miss Jiang will escape this quagmire and live a good life.”
……
…….
Zhu Yunxiao sat in the Jiang Family hall, took the tea but did not drink it, just held it in his hand.
Because Jiang mother had fainted from anger, she didn’t want to force herself to see Zhu Yunxiao, so she let Jiang Rui entertain him.
Jiang Rui didn’t want to always talk to Zhu Yunxiao about the family’s vexations, but she knew Yunxiao would care. However, she originally didn’t go out, so she had no topics for a moment. Fortunately, she suddenly thought of the previous matter at Qin Ying’s restaurant…
“Earlier, I remembered your reminder and testified for that Miss Yang.” She said, “Unexpectedly, the big Ji Ying matter happened right after, and no one paid attention to this small matter anymore. This matter is probably over.”
A smile appeared on Zhu Yunxiao’s face, he nodded, then shook his head: “This matter…”
He was about to say something, but stopped.
“……not necessarily. We’ll see after the new year, but it probably won’t be anything serious.”
At this point, he smiled again.
He looked very happy. Jiang Rui also breathed a sigh of relief and was about to say something when the steward hurriedly came in from outside: “Young lady, news just came from the imperial palace. This year’s palace banquet is canceled.”
Palace banquet canceled?
Jiang Rui stood up, her expression surprised.
Since the new Emperor’s ascension to the throne, every year in the first month of the lunar calendar, the Emperor would hold a banquet. Officials and their wives of rank would bring their children to attend the banquet in the palace that day, to share joy with the Emperor and Empress.
The Jiang Family was also qualified to enter the palace, and the Emperor would specially ask the Jiang mother and daughter to come forward for greetings.
This was also one of the few opportunities for the Jiang mother and daughter to have a court audience.
“It says no banquet in the imperial palace this year, but a martial arts banquet at the temporary palace hunting ground. Because it’s martial arts performance, it’s limited to imperial relatives and specified civil and military officials bringing nephews and nieces to attend.”
Martial arts banquet?
Jiang Rui looked at Zhu Yunxiao.
Zhu Yunxiao nodded slightly: “Last night the military indeed received the news, so that’s why I’m not coming back for the new year this year, to prepare for escorting.”
Like this, then women and girls don’t need to go.
Jiang Rui thought, although the Jiang Family is military generals, she and her younger sister are both daughters…
“This is also good. You and auntie can rest well, no need to go to the imperial palace for socializing.” Zhu Yunxiao said.
Every year’s palace banquet was also a torment for mother. Seeing other families’ husbands, wives, sons, and daughters thriving, mother would always feel sad. Jiang Rui nodded in agreement.
Zhu Yunxiao didn’t stay longer, bid farewell and went out.
As he reached the doorway, he heard voices of Jiang Family second uncle and second aunt coming from behind.
“Oh heavens, unexpectedly we don’t even qualify for the palace banquet?”
“Not attending the palace banquet, our Jiang Family will eventually be forgotten by the Emperor!”
“Where is your good son-in-law? Let him promote you a bit, take you there.”
Jiang Rui heard the clamor behind her, her face flushed red, and gestured to Zhu Yunxiao: “You go back first.”
The door closed, blocking the quarreling voices inside.
Zhu Yunxiao spurred his horse and left the Jiang Family area, without looking back once.
Last night the messenger said that the Emperor was very angry about the bandits rampant in White Horse Town, so he wanted to urge everyone to perform their duties diligently through the martial arts performance, and not to slack off.
After the White Horse Town incident, the city was full of discussions, and the military was also full of discussions.
From these discussions, he finally got one piece of information.
His previous guess finally had an answer.
Zhu Yunxiao looked ahead. Miss Yang, the one who died, and the one who is alive, indeed have extraordinary identities.
……
…….
“Great, not holding the palace banquet is truly great!”
Duke Ding’an clapped his hands in joy.
Duke Ding’an is not a military general, nor imperial relatives. Moreover, the Emperor this time would not specially designate him to go. To be precise, he felt that this time not holding the palace banquet but holding the martial arts banquet was precisely to designate not letting him go.
“This way, we don’t need to bring our children into the palace, and His Majesty doesn’t need to see the one he doesn’t want to see.”
Duke Ding’an’s wife also guessed it. Even the eunuch who came to proclaim the imperial decree deliberately revealed that it was the Empress’s suggestion.
The Empress did not want to see them, and even less wanted to see that Yang Luo, so she absolutely would not allow them to enter the Imperial City.
Duke Ding’an’s wife couldn’t help sighing, feeling somewhat aggrieved.
She had been confined at home for so many days, almost like secluded cultivation in a temple.
The other things were fine, but she really wanted to go to the palace banquet.
Yang Hui had also been waiting.
In the end, in the last two days before the new year, this news came.
“Actually, even if the palace banquet was held.” She couldn’t help saying, “We wouldn’t bring Yang Luo anyway.”
“You say not bring and it’s not brought?” Duke Ding’an glared, “Don’t forget, she is a princess companion reader, and also a libationer disciple. What if that girl makes a fuss…”
Ever since this Yang Luo entered the household, how many unexpected things had happened.
Still, His Majesty has the final say, no one goes, that’s more secure.
Duke Ding’an patted his heart and leaned back in the chair: “Now we can peacefully spend the new year.”
As soon as his words fell, the steward stumbled in running: “Duke—not good—Embroidered Uniform Guard is here—”
What? What for? Has the Emperor finally couldn’t hold back and wants to dispose of them? Duke Ding’an anxiously stood up and nearly fell, then a clear voice followed the steward from outside the hall.
“Duke, don’t be afraid. Not here to raid the house.”
Wei Jiao, in swaying black clothes, walked in with a beaming smile, then glared at the steward.
“Could it be that I visit the door just to raid the house? Don’t forget, I also count as your family’s relative.”
Rel, relative? Duke Ding’an and his wife stared wide-eyed at this young man with delicate and beautiful features before them. What relative? Where did this relative come from?
“Your family’s Yang Luo is my junior sister.” Wei Jiao said with a smile, “Junior sister’s uncle is also my uncle.”
As he spoke, he let out an “ah.”
“I was rude. Visiting during the festival and forgot to bring gifts for uncle and aunt.”
He turned his head and asked the Embroidered Uniform Guards already lined up in the hall.
“Recently raided whose house? Any good things left? Take them to give to Duke Ding’an—no, my uncle and aunt.”
Duke Ding’an and his wife’s faces flushed red, ears buzzing.
Too terrifying, what is all this? Indeed not words a normal person would say!
This madman!
“Captain, don’t joke.” Duke Ding’an said stammering, “Does His Majesty have any orders?”
Wei Jiao directly sat down in the host seat: “I’m not here on His Majesty’s business today. I’m running an errand for my teacher, to bring good news to my junior sister.”
Teacher?
Libationer?
That must be about studies. Duke Ding’an breathed a sigh of relief. That’s reading and calligraphy, good good, staying home confined for reading and calligraphy is even more stable.
“What is it….” He hurriedly asked.
Wei Jiao looked at him and smiled slightly: “Please junior sister attend His Majesty’s martial arts banquet at the temporary palace this year.”
Attend, martial arts banquet.
Duke Ding’an couldn’t catch his breath.
Help!
