Chapter 155: Invitation To The Martial Arts Banquet
“Senior Brother!”
Mo Zheng stepped into the front hall, looking at the young man sitting in the hall, and called out joyfully.
Although Duke Ding’an and his wife were so frightened by Wei Jiao’s one sentence that they nearly fainted and desperately wanted to drive him out immediately, they didn’t dare and couldn’t.
Duke Ding’an’s Wife could only personally call “Yang Luo” over, with the purpose of personally instructing “A Luo, you absolutely cannot go”It’s very dangerous”No one in our family is going, you have no reliance on your own”You’re still in the mourning period, your mother cannot rest in peace yet, you cannot go to play” and so on, to make her refuse.
“Yang Luo” mumbled in agreement and came to the front hall.
“Junior Sister!” Wei Jiao also responded enthusiastically, “It’s truly like three years apart after just one day!”
Duke Ding’an and his wife watched from the side with complex expressions. Were Senior Brother and Junior Sister so familiar? Well, if talking about familiarity, they were very familiar. When Yang Luo first entered Duke Ding’an’s Mansion, Wei Jiao was present, and even before entering Duke Ding’an’s Mansion, the two had dealings.
However, what was that about not seeing for one day? Had they seen each other recently? Hadn’t she been confined at home all along…
Amid random thoughts, they heard “Yang Luo’s” voice coming again.
“Martial Arts Banquet?” Mo Zheng asked curiously, “Since it’s martial arts performance, it must involve knife and sword, weapons, horse riding, archery, and such. What is Teacher, a scholar, going to do there?”
Wei Jiao raised an eyebrow: “Junior Sister, are you looking down on Teacher? The Six Arts of the Gentleman, and Teacher is a gentleman among gentlemen, even more proficient. This old man… Teacher can survive in chaotic times, his skills are no ordinary matter.”
Mo Zheng nodded, then with some timidity: “But, Senior Brother, I’ve just started reading, and I’m shallow in the Six Arts of the Gentleman. If I go, I’ll bring shame to Teacher and the senior brothers.”
Wei Jiao looked at the woman in front of him putting on a timid appearance, and spat in his heart.
“How could that be.” His smile grew warmer, “Junior Sister, rest assured, with me here.”
Mo Zheng bloomed into a smile: “Great, then I’m relieved.”
Wei Jiao leaned slightly forward looking at Mo Zheng, eyes curving into a smile: “Originally Teacher wasn’t planning to go, it was I who begged and begged to persuade him. I’m doing all this for Junior Sister.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Duke Ding’an nearby.
“Our uncle Duke Ding’an is neither accomplished in essays nor in martial skills, and not imperial relatives either, no qualification to attend the Martial Arts Banquet, which would drag down Junior Sister so you can’t go either. That won’t do, so I immediately went to find Teacher, appealed with emotion and reasoned with logic, pleaded, and finally he agreed to ask His Majesty for a spot, to bring the disciples personally.”
As he spoke, his eyes flew up with a smile.
“Junior Sister, touched, right?”
Mo Zheng nodded repeatedly, her expression moved: “Thank you Senior Brother, Senior Brother treats me so well.”
“You’re welcome, we’re brother and sister after all.” Wei Jiao smiled brightly, “If I don’t treat you well, who would I treat well?”
With that, he stood up.
“Then we’ll meet at the Martial Arts Banquet on the tenth of the first month.”
Seeing him stand to leave, while standing stunned nearby pondering how it was our uncle, how Duke Ding’an who was neither accomplished in essays nor in martial skills was about to speak, Wei Jiao raised his hand and pointed.
“Uncle, no need for formalities, no need to see me off.”
With that, he smiled and floated away like a black cloud amid the Embroidered Uniform Guards’ escort.
Mo Zheng called from behind: “Senior Brother, take care——”
Unable to, and not daring to grab Wei Jiao, Duke Ding’an grabbed Mo Zheng at this moment.
“You you, you, how did you just agree?” he asked urgently.
This Wei Jiao was mad and erratic, he hadn’t reacted yet, and these two Senior Brother Junior Sister you treat me well I thank you had reached an agreement.
“Didn’t I just instruct you?” Duke Ding’an’s Wife also asked urgently, “You’re still in the mourning period!”
Mo Zheng looked helpless: “Teacher’s order is hard to defy.” She looked at Duke Ding’an and his wife, and said sincerely, “Uncle and Aunt, rest assured. I think if my mother knew in the underworld, she wouldn’t blame me.”
……
…….
With the Libationer Teacher, the Embroidered Uniform Guard Captain Senior Brother, and the mother in the underworld as excuse, Miss Yang gracefully took leave and left.
“Duke! She absolutely cannot go out!” Duke Ding’an’s Wife stamped her foot.
This Martial Arts Banquet was originally held by the Empress precisely so she wouldn’t enter the palace to see the Emperor.
Now she was still going.
“Quickly go report to the Emperor.” Duke Ding’an’s Wife urged, “Have His Majesty issue a decree…”
“Issue what decree?” Duke Ding’an said irritably, “The decree to hold the Martial Arts Banquet has already been issued, so many civil officials and military generals have received invitations, everyone under heaven knows. Issuing another to cancel it— the ruler does not go back on his word! You think it’s a joke!”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife was startled by the yell, and also said irritably: “Then won’t she be seen? Wasn’t the Martial Arts Banquet all for nothing? Even funnier!”
Duke Ding’an pressed his forehead with his hand, feeling it throbbing with pain: “It wasn’t us who let her go. The Libationer went to consult His Majesty, how could His Majesty not know? His Majesty agreed, it’s not our business!”
They couldn’t manage the Libationer, and even less influence the Emperor. Anyway, they couldn’t manage anything!
Duke Ding’an suddenly thought, was this not getting one’s way? Even if this person was the Empress.
Hmm, Empress. Truly speaking, his sister was the real Empress!
So, no matter how that Chai Clan woman schemed, she couldn’t get her way. Heaven was on Yang Luo’s side!
Right, exactly so!
Duke Ding’an couldn’t help but put hands on waist and laugh heartily.
Duke Ding’an’s Wife looked terrified. Had the Duke gone mad?
……
……
Canceling the Martial Arts Banquet was impossible.
The Emperor had a bit of a headache.
The Martial Arts Banquet was indeed because mountain bandits were rampant, to motivate the ministers and officials not to slack, that it was held.
It was also indeed a compromise because the Empress didn’t want to hold a palace banquet.
“I don’t want to see people from the Yang Family come wish me Happy New Year this year.” The Empress said very bluntly.
The Emperor actually didn’t want to see people from the Yang Family either.
Thus, inspiration struck, changed to Martial Arts Banquet, limited participants, keeping the Yang Family people out.
Unexpectedly after everything was discussed, Wang Zaitian just said to bring a few disciples to attend, write an essay recording this grand event, compose a rhapsody for the dynasty, add to His Majesty’s enjoyment.
He knew right away upon hearing, there must be this Yang Luo, the Libationer’s newly accepted female disciple, certainly to use this chance to show her to everyone.
Refuse?
Wang Zaitian on essays or riding and shooting, no reason to refuse.
Directly say that Yang Luo has bad character and don’t want her to go, Wang Zaitian could come to the Imperial City and discuss the Dao with him for a day and night…
The Emperor got a headache just thinking about dealing with Wang Zaitian.
Go tell the Empress? The Emperor felt even more headache…
Right in the midst of headache, outside the hall came a young girl’s light laugh “Father Emperor——”
The Emperor was overjoyed and looked outside the hall.
“Pingcheng! You’ve come, great!”
……
…….
“You say what? You want your companion readers all to go to the Martial Arts Banquet?”
The Emperor heard Princess Pingcheng’s intention and was somewhat surprised.
Princess Pingcheng smiled: “Father Emperor please rest assured, we can banquet separately, at a specific horse field do horse polo, pitch-pot, shoot grass targets, won’t go near Father Emperor and Mother Empress, won’t disrupt the Martial Arts Banquet.”
Themselves banqueting separately, not going near Father Emperor and Mother Empress, the Emperor’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. Good, this idea is good.
Right, people go, but can still not see.
“Father Emperor, just agree.” Princess Pingcheng said smiling, then stood up, “You just need to agree, I’ll go talk to Mother Empress.”
The Emperor looked gratified, with a bit of self-reproach.
“Pingcheng, Father Emperor knows you specially came to help Father Emperor out of this.” He said, “Father Emperor won’t hide from you. That Miss Yang is unruly and offended the Empress. Father Emperor, considering old Duke Ding’an’s aid back then, cannot severely punish her. Your Mother Empress doesn’t want to see her, unexpectedly the Libationer wants to bring her.”
At this point, he looked at Pingcheng.
His daughter had a smiling expression, clever brows and eyes, neither proud nor impetuous, crystalline like jade.
“Father Emperor thanks you, resolved this difficulty.”
“Father Emperor asks you again, keep an eye on this Miss Yang, don’t let her disturb your Mother Empress.”
Princess Pingcheng gave a solemn bow: “Your minister obeys the command, please Your Majesty rest assured.”
The Emperor put on a solemn posture: “You’ve worked hard, my dear subject.”
With that, father and daughter couldn’t help but both laugh.
……
……
When Princess Pingcheng came out to go to the Empress’s Palace, she saw Wei Jiao coming with light footsteps.
“Princess——”
As before, Wei Jiao saw her and from afar bloomed a smiling face in greeting.
Princess Pingcheng stood still watching him, and when he neared, smiled slightly: “Done seeing your Junior Sister?”
Wei Jiao laughed ha ha: “Teacher’s order is hard to defy, Teacher’s order is hard to defy.”
Teacher’s order hard to defy, previously hadn’t seen him have Teacher’s orders either. Princess Pingcheng thought, her smile growing warmer on her face.
“I have something too, go tell the Libationer.” She said.
Wei Jiao asked curiously: “What is it?”
Princess Pingcheng said: “Tell the Libationer, I want to bring my companion readers to attend the banquet together, invite Miss Yang with us.”
As the words fell, she saw Wei Jiao’s face bloom with a smile again.
“Your minister, obeys the command.” He bent his tall figure, responded loudly, turned and left, “Princess, I’ll go right now.”
Princess Pingcheng watched the departing swaying figure and smiled faintly.
Yes, she called the Libationer Mister, but she was also a princess, and Mister was also a minister.
A princess can give orders to a minister.
