Qu Dubian’s position was to the lower left of Emperor Chongzhao, with a small table.
He could only be on the left, as the empress was beside the emperor, and the vacant crown prince position was on the right.
Ye Xiaoyuan came up from behind, kneeling beside Qu Dubian to look after him.
“Beloved officials, please be seated.”
Emperor Chongzhao took his seat, and only then did the officials sit down.
Palace servants orderly brought out the New Year’s banquet dishes one by one. In between, palace musicians came out, and as music and dance began, the atmosphere of the New Year’s banquet became much more relaxed.
Emperor Chongzhao raised his cup: “It has been a tiring year. I toast to all of you, beloved officials.”
The officials also raised their cups with smiles: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Qu Dubian wasn’t very interested in this gathering that resembled a year-end summary meeting. He lay on his small table, eyes wide open, looking for people below. The view from above was quite broad, but there were many people in the military officials’ section, and many in the front row. Which one was his maternal grandfather?
A palace servant came up with a tray, placing a pot in front of him… Qu Dubian leaned in to smell it, “Why is it milk?”
Palace servant: “Head Eunuch Yu specifically instructed it, Little Prince. The others are wine.”
Qu Dubian tugged at her sleeve, wheedling softly: “I want to drink some fruit wine.”
The palace servant was helpless, secretly glancing at Ye Xiaoyuan.
Ye Xiaoyuan was also helpless, saying softly: “Pour the prince a small half cup.”
The palace servant put down the milk pot and poured just enough to cover the bottom of the cup. Qu Dubian dipped his chopsticks in it and tasted it with the tip of his tongue.
The fruit fragrance was faint, with a bit of astringency and spiciness.
Emperor Chongzhao took in this scene, suddenly smiled, and looked towards a certain marquis below who was covering his face with a pink butterfly handkerchief. He raised his voice: “If we were to name the greatest contributor to the nation’s peace and prosperity, it would naturally be our Sword-Holding Marquis who guards the northern frontier of Da Zhou! Marquis Xu, why are you covering your face with a brocade handkerchief today? You and I are in-laws, what is there to be embarrassed about?”
Qu Dubian choked, coughing several times, his eyes wide open.
Heavens, which one??
His gaze quickly located and fell on the grandfather he had found strange earlier, whose dark skin was particularly accentuated by the pink handkerchief covering his face.
Xu Jin said in a muffled voice: “Your Majesty, this subject has scars on his face and fears alarming Your Majesty, so he covers his face with a brocade handkerchief.”
Emperor Chongzhao said with interest: “It’s alright. Marquis Xu has served the country loyally. I won’t feel alarmed, and neither will the beloved officials present. Take it down.”
Prince Ming couldn’t hold back his laughter.
When his little nephew had entered with his royal brother earlier, the Sword-Holding Marquis had snatched his handkerchief in a flash. His royal brother had clearly noticed and was holding back his mischief.
Xu Jin: “Your Majesty, this subject has something to say, and hopes Your Majesty won’t take offense.”
Emperor Chongzhao: “It’s fine, speak.”
Xu Jin spoke in a straightforward tone: “In the previous dynasty, there was a saying: ‘I and the general remove battle robes, in the warm hibiscus tent we spend the spring night,’ which scholars have played with extensively. This shows that as a ruler, asking a general to remove something from his body is extremely inappropriate. This subject once had a daughter of unparalleled beauty, so this subject also has some comeliness. Therefore, this subject would rather keep this handkerchief.”
“Pft, cough cough cough…”
With these words, some spat out their wine, some fumbled, and others who couldn’t hold back let out rooster-like laughter, then looked at the black-faced emperor on his seat and forcibly covered their mouths.
Prince Ming: “Cough cough cough!! The marquis really knows how to joke, hahaha!”
Xu Jin: “Well, just livening up the atmosphere. Fortunately, His Majesty doesn’t blame this old man for making such a joke.”
He covered his face with the handkerchief in his right hand, while raising his wine cup with his left hand towards Emperor Chongzhao, “This subject toasts you.”
Imperial son, who are you teasing?
If he didn’t make him uncomfortable in return, he wouldn’t be Xu Jin. What’s wrong with covering his face? Was it for you to see?
Emperor Chongzhao: “It should be I who toasts Marquis Xu.”
Seeing Xu Jin secretly exposing one eye to look beside him, he inwardly snorted coldly, called over Head Eunuch Yu, and whispered a few words.
Head Eunuch Yu: “Your Majesty…?”
“Go, quickly.”
Head Eunuch Yu could only comply. Not long after, a long screen was brought up, blocking Emperor Chongzhao, the Empress, and the Seventh Prince at the top.
The officials could only vaguely see the blurred shadows of the three.
Emperor Chongzhao’s gratified voice came through: “I am considerate of you. Now Marquis Xu no longer needs to specially use one hand to cover his face. Put it down and eat properly. Holding your hand up all the time must be tiring.”
Xu Jin: “…”
Qu Dubian: “…”
He’s really such a dog.
Now he could no longer see his grandson at all. Xu Jin threw away the handkerchief, but no matter how hard he tried, he could only see the tiny silhouette behind the screen.
Xu Jin: “…”
He smiled and said: “This subject thanks you.”
Emperor Chongzhao: “Eh, we’re family, no need for formalities.”
Cups were exchanged, and ruler and subjects were in harmony.
Qu Dubian lowered his head and continued to fiddle with his small amount of wine, dipping it little by little with his chopsticks. Emperor Chongzhao lowered his voice: “Want to meet your maternal grandfather?”
This question circled in Qu Dubian’s mind, already dissected into seven or eight different meanings. Just as he was about to answer, Emperor Chongzhao said: “I know you’re curious, but it’s not time yet—don’t drink that wine anymore, just taste it and that’s enough. Do you really want to finish it? Ye Xiaoyuan, pour him some milk.”
“Father Emperor, there’s only a tiny bit here.”
“No matter how little, it’s not allowed.”
The stimulating fruit wine on Qu Dubian’s tongue was mercilessly taken away, replaced with a cup of milk.
Outside the screen.
Xie Jingshan, remembering Grand Tutor Xie’s instructions, silently ate his meal, actually observing in all directions and listening attentively.
Had his father guessed wrong?
The New Year’s banquet had been peaceful so far, with the Sword-Holding Marquis and His Majesty conversing pleasantly—at least on the surface.
From any perspective, it didn’t seem like anyone would pick a fight at this time.
Suddenly, from where the officials of the Censorate were seated together, someone with a flushed face, full of drunken air, either confused by alcohol or for some other reason, abruptly dropped his wine cup and smiled bitterly: “It’s difficult—”
A secretary from the Ministry of Justice exclaimed: “Censor Zheng, at the New Year’s banquet, with His Majesty present, why do you sigh?”
Censor Zheng: “I sigh because our Da Zhou’s laws cannot protect the common people. A complaint to officials at the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, yet not one person dares to take up this case.”
The secretary from the Ministry of Justice’s expression became solemn: “So it’s related to the Ministry of Justice?”
The two of them spoke in turn, their positions at the back, yet those in the front rows could hear clearly.
Emperor Chongzhao put down his wine cup: “What are you two officials discussing? Why not tell me? Censor Zheng, if you’re drunk, you can go to the side hall to sober up.”
Censor Zheng staggered to his feet, walking to the front of the hall: “This subject is not drunk, but this subject wishes he were.”
The singing and dancing in the hall stopped. Head Eunuch Yu waved his hand, and the palace musicians bowed and left. Their performance was over; the stage was to be given to others.
Emperor Chongzhao: “Oh? What has caused such grief in my beloved official?”
Censor Zheng cupped his hands: “Yesterday, this subject met a middle-aged man whose child, raised to adulthood with great difficulty, was beheaded in the street! He was grief-stricken, filed a complaint with the yamen, but they wouldn’t accept it. In anger, he beat the drum, but the Court of Judicial Review did not respond. His pitiful state aroused indignation. This subject, as a censor, should impeach the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, but—”
“This subject dares not!”
“Why do you not dare?”
“The killer is feared in the capital. This subject, a mere censor, how dare I memorialize?”
At this point, except for the imperial clan members and a few consorts and princes who truly didn’t know the inside story, who didn’t understand who he was talking about?
Emperor Chongzhao: “I permit you to speak. Who is this person?”
Censor Zheng: “It is none other than the Sword-Holding Marquis Xu Jin! Marquis Xu, do you dare say you didn’t kill someone at the city gate? At that time, the young man had already stated his identity. Why did Marquis Xu still deliver a fatal blow?” His eyes widened in anger, “At that time, the young man had already stated his identity. Why did Marquis Xu still deliver a fatal blow?”
The officials were in an uproar.
It wasn’t that they were surprised that Xu Jin had killed someone, but rather that someone had actually brought up this matter at this critical juncture.
Bang!
Emperor Chongzhao heavily put down his cup, “Censor Zheng, do you have evidence?”
Censor Zheng: “This subject saw it with his own eyes! Yesterday, many colleagues also went to welcome the Sword-Holding Marquis, and they probably all saw it too. The surrounding commoners, the Imperial Guard Commander, and even Head Eunuch Yu all saw it! Your Majesty, these are all witnesses.”
Head Eunuch Yu glanced at Censor Zheng, who had dragged him into this.
The officials gradually began to argue.
“Nonsense, that was clearly a northern frontier assassin!”
“If it was an assassin, wouldn’t it be better to interrogate him thoroughly?”
“Assassins are all death soldiers. What can be interrogated out of them? Better to kill them cleanly.”
“If you killed him, so be it, but why not leave the corpse? It’s just guilty conscience.”
They argued fiercely. Qu Dubian became tense as he listened. Did his grandfather really kill someone at the capital’s city gate? With evidence in his cheap father’s hands, wouldn’t he be finished?
“Alright, everyone be quiet,” Emperor Chongzhao said. “Marquis Xu, do you have anything to say?”
Xu Jin: “This subject can’t say much. This subject believed he was an assassin and dealt with him directly, as is customary in the northern frontier. After returning to the capital, this subject was even more vigilant for Your Majesty’s safety, fearing assassins might take advantage of the chaos to enter the city. Unexpectedly, there really was one. Should I have kept him alive for the New Year instead of killing him?”
“If you all think this marquis is guilty, then convict me. The merits this marquis has earned can withstand the charge of killing an assassin.”
Censor Zheng angrily said: “Does Marquis Xu have evidence to prove that the person killed was not a commoner?!”
Xu Jin was puzzled: “This marquis would also like to ask Censor Zheng, do you have evidence to prove that this marquis didn’t kill an assassin? Do you understand assassins better than this marquis?”
Censor Zheng: “You! The dead person was clearly the son of Head Zhang of the Astrology Bureau!”
Emperor Chongzhao, who had been watching the show for a while: “Everyone stop. Censor Zheng, sit back down. Let me say a few words.”
Censor Zheng cupped his hands and returned to his seat.
“Today is the New Year’s banquet. I don’t want to discuss other matters. The issue mentioned by Censor Zheng will be jointly investigated by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. Whether he was an assassin or not, there will eventually be a result.”
“So, Marquis Xu and Censor Zheng, do you have any objections?”
Censor Zheng: “This subject has no objections, only hoping that the government offices dare to investigate properly.”
Xu Jin: “This subject had no objections to begin with.”
Qu Dubian was eating behind the screen, but his heart was already suspended high.
The Head of the Astrology Bureau’s own son? Killed just like that? At the city gate??
His maternal grandfather, was he this high-profile!
It sounded like the body had been completely disposed of. With both sides sticking to their own stories, whether he was an assassin or not would just be a matter of his cheap father’s word, wouldn’t it? If his cheap father intended to make things difficult, even with his maternal grandfather’s outstanding merits, he would still inevitably be in trouble.
Qu Dubian secretly glanced at Emperor Chongzhao.
The latter’s face showed no anger or other emotion, calmly drinking wine and eating.
Towards the end of the meal, Emperor Chongzhao was about to leave early, giving the officials freedom to converse. Xu Jin suddenly said: “Your Majesty, this subject has something to discuss with you later!”
Emperor Chongzhao paused.
“Come with Prince Ming later.”
After speaking, he led Qu Dubian, taking a detour from behind the screen through another door, leaving without letting the Sword-Holding Marquis see even a bit of them.
After the emperor left, the consorts also led the princes away one after another.
Only then did the officials truly become lively.
Xie Jingshan whispered to the person beside him: “Let me ask you something. That Censor Zheng who spoke up just now, why haven’t I seen him stick his head out before?”
“Probably doesn’t get along with the Sword-Holding Marquis, or someone is behind him… the latter is more likely,” the Deputy Minister of Works covered his mouth and said softly, “Just don’t know who’s pushing from behind.”
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
