Chapter 1129: At the Birthday Banquet, a Brother-in-Law Acting Out of Place

In mid-autumn, in the Eastern Capital, under a sky of light winds and soft clouds, the Haiyang Marquis Estate was a scene of bustling festivity, with red silk and colored ribbons hung everywhere, the atmosphere brimming with joyous celebration. Outside the estate, carriages and canopies gathered in abundance; within, guests thronged and honored friends filled every seat.

Haiyang Marquis was the title Emperor Liu had bestowed upon Zhou Zong, the father of Pure Consort Zhou. Today marked the ninetieth birthday of the old State Elder Zhou. Toward the consort kin of the Great Han, Emperor Liu was still quite generous—perhaps power was not fully granted, but wealth and glory had never been lacking.

Since the great Huainan campaign back then, the Zhou family had been relocated north to the Eastern Capital. Fourteen or fifteen years had passed—from a family of surrendered officials to nobles of the Great Han, all because there was a Pure Consort Zhou in the palace who enjoyed considerable favor.

In the early years, Zhou Zong had been enfeoffed as a duke, and in the first year of Kaibao, he was formally settled with the title of Haiyang Marquis. All these years, Zhou Zong had been living in the capital as a carefree marquis.

Although Zhou Zong had rendered no particular merit to the court, he had a good daughter, and she had borne the imperial house a son and a daughter—Emperor Liu had to show some acknowledgment.

Of course, it was also because Zhou Zong had no direct heirs, and because over all these years, the Zhou family had remained honest and low-key, quietly well-behaved. Pure Consort Zhou, in her decade-plus in the palace, had never once proactively made any request of Emperor Liu.

Even the birthday banquet was the same—rarely was it done on a grand scale. That this one was being handled with such fanfare was, first, because it was the ninetieth full birthday, and second, because the Emperor had long since announced that he would personally attend.

Though there was a saying about celebrating ninety but not a hundred—a nicety observed—for Zhou Zong, at this age, every extra year was a gain. Most importantly, Emperor Liu had once joked with him back then, saying he would personally congratulate him on his ninetieth birthday.

For people of this era, this was the highest of high ages. In the eyes of many common folk, Zhou Zong was a man of auspicious omen, and the Zhou residence a place of blessed fortune. Emperor Liu felt the same—in all his years, the only person he had seen who outlived him was the Daoist Chen Tuan...

Many guests came to offer congratulations, and those who could not come sent gifts of birthday tribute. As for Emperor Liu, he personally wrote a pair of congratulatory couplets, sealed them with his private seal, and presented them as his gift.

At the same time, he brought Pure Consort Zhou, his seventh son Liu Hui, and his fifth daughter Liu Xuan to grace the Zhou residence with his presence.

Zhou Zong, now ninety, had taken on a completely decrepit appearance—his body withered to the extreme, hair and beard pure white without a trace of color, his back hunched terribly, needing help to eat and walk.

Still, his mind remained clear, and his speech was not muddled. Dressed in ceremonial robes, decked out like a birthday elder, he was greatly delighted at the scene, nodding continuously. At Emperor Liu's personal arrival, he expressed his gratitude over and over.

"You are my wife's father, and also my elder. It is only right that I show my sincerity—please do not stand on ceremony." Emperor Liu sat right beside Zhou Zong, a smile on his face, speaking softly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty! What an honor!" In the end, he was advanced in years, or perhaps too joyful and excited—Zhou Zong kept expressing similar words of thanks.

"Liu Hui, Liu Xuan—come, kowtow to your maternal grandfather and offer birthday wishes!" Emperor Liu beckoned his seventh son and fifth daughter at the same table.

"Yes!" The son and daughter responded in unison, rising from their seats.

Liu Hui had grown two years older, appearing ever more refined and scholarly, his cultured bearing even heavier than his eldest brother's. The fifth daughter, Liu Xuan, was nearly seven, with a lovely appearance, fair as carved jade, her temperament somewhat taking after her mother—quiet and well-behaved.

Facing the kowtows of the two children, Zhou Zong felt his old heart greatly comforted. He reached out with his thin, stick-like hands to help them up: "Quickly rise, no need for such formality!"

Emperor Liu, meanwhile, had his gaze fall on the young Lady Zhou on the other side. He asked with a smile: "Little Zhou has grown up too—you've become ever more lovely. Have you been promised to anyone yet?"

The young Lady Zhou, nearly seventeen, was already a grown young woman—a lotus bud just emerging, about to bloom. Her beauty needed no elaboration; lovely was all there was to say.

But compared to when she was small, when she dared to converse boldly with Emperor Liu, lively and laughing—now that she was grown, she had become reserved and shy instead. Hearing Emperor Liu's words, her pretty face flushed red, and she moved her beautiful eyes away, not daring to meet his gaze, instead making a dodging motion behind her sister.

The maiden's shy, timid appearance was truly endearing—even Emperor Liu could not help feeling a bit of warmth stir in his heart. It had been many years since Emperor Liu had felt such a sensation; it even felt somewhat novel...

Noticing Emperor Liu's gaze, the elder Zhou squeezed her sister's hand and spoke up: "Little sister has reached the right age too. The family has been looking for a suitable young lord!"

"Oh!" Emperor Liu gave a light response, blinking several times in succession, his expression unmoved as he said calmly: "I wonder which family's talented young lord will be fortunate enough to marry the pearl of the Zhou house..."

Pure Consort Zhou, for her part, was not a particularly sensitive woman and did not detect the slight awkwardness in Emperor Liu's tone. It was also because it was her old father's grand birthday, and her husband had brought her and the children back to the estate—her heart was simply full of joy.

Emperor Liu, meanwhile, continued to tease his sister-in-law: "Have you taken a fancy to any family? If so, your brother-in-law will help you check them over..."

"No!" Little Zhou opened her beautiful eyes wide, looking at this somewhat strange brother-in-law, the blush on her face fading considerably as she shook her head and answered softly.

Hearing this, Emperor Liu said with all seriousness: "Marriage is a major matter in life—you must examine carefully, choose earnestly, and not let yourself be wronged..."

Perhaps feeling he had said too much, Emperor Liu quickly pulled the topic back to the birthday banquet. Raising a cup of wine toward Zhou Zong, he said: "When you, venerable elder, celebrated your eightieth birthday, I was unable to attend in person. This cup of wine now expresses my congratulations!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhou Zong was also beaming with joy—at this age, he truly had fewer scruples.

In the society of this era, the elderly were treated with great respect and reverence. Ordinary commoners who reached sixty could already enjoy certain special treatment from the government. And with Zhou Zong's status, he was even more exceptional.

Compared to previous years, Emperor Liu was indeed considerably more at leisure—but that was only relatively speaking. Personally leaving the palace to grace the Zhou residence was already a lofty honor for the Zhou family.

He did not stay long at the birthday banquet—after a few cups of wine and several congratulatory speeches, he departed. He had long since noticed that with him present, many people could not relax; the majesty of the Emperor suppressed the festive atmosphere of the banquet.

Pure Consort Zhou and her children did not return to the palace with him. Emperor Liu specially permitted them to stay overnight at the Zhou residence to attend to Zhou Zong. The old father, at such an age, each day seen was one fewer.

"Who is it that now heads the Zhou household and manages its affairs—what was the name? Zhou Fang?" On the way back to the palace, Emperor Liu summoned Zhang Dejun, the Commissioner of the Palace City accompanying the imperial carriage, and asked.

"To answer Your Majesty, his name is Zhou Fang—a grand-nephew of the Haiyang Marquis. He entered the Zhou residence ten years ago, and in recent years has begun managing all the major and minor affairs of the Zhou family. I hear the Haiyang Marquis intends to have this man inherit the family property and provide for his old age and funeral!" Zhang Dejun said crisply.

Because Zhou Zong had no sons, but his branch of the line had to continue somehow, he had selected a boy from among his clansmen. Due to blood relations, the title might not be inheritable, but the property, the ancestral rites, and the political capital—these were no small fortune either.

"What is this man's character like? Can he be entrusted with the old man's final affairs? Has he been investigated?" Emperor Liu asked again.

Hearing this, Zhang Dejun answered without hesitation: "I will send someone to investigate right away!"

"Mm!" Emperor Liu responded: "The Haiyang Marquis is advanced in years. I hope he can enjoy his old age in peace!"

"His Majesty's care for the Zhou family is truly moving!" Zhang Dejun flattered out of habit.

Hearing this, Emperor Liu smiled, then casually instructed: "Also, go look into the young Lady Zhou's marriage prospects—who are the families being considered?"

Zhang Dejun was momentarily taken aback, but reacted on instinct: "As you command!"

As he was pondering, Emperor Liu added a reminder: "Do it in secret—do not make it known!"

"Yes!"

As a brother-in-law, showing concern for his sister-in-law's marriage prospects shouldn't be too much, should it.