Chapter 721: The Betrothal of the Guo Maiden

"Your Majesty!"

Setting aside the matters at hand, Liu Chengyou looked up at Zhao Yan standing below, revealed a slight smile, and asked cordially: "How is your recovery?"

"Thank you for Your Majesty's concern, I am already much better!" Zhao Yan bowed, as respectful as ever.

"It seems a few more days of rest really did help!" Observing Zhao Yan's complexion, though still unnaturally pale, his color was indeed much better than a few days ago.

"It is all thanks to Your Majesty's care and grace toward your servant; I am deeply grateful!" Zhao Yan bowed deeply, speaking with emotion.

"Since you have returned, I have a task to entrust to you!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand and said: "I have recently heard repeatedly that prefectures and commanderies across the realm often neglect criminal justice matters, with officials paying them no heed, resulting in many lawsuits throughout the land, where the people have grievances they cannot voice and wrongs they cannot redress. I have already issued an edict, ordering the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate to select capable officers to travel to the circuits and prefectures to investigate and correct abuses. The Chongzheng Hall will also send two men to participate; as for the selection, you may deliberate and decide!"

After digesting the emperor's instructions for a moment, Zhao Yan clasped his hands and replied: "Yes!"

Observing Zhao Yan's deference, Liu Chengyou liked him—he liked precisely this kind of quiet, unobtrusive deference, and the man's abilities were not inconsiderable, diligent and devoted.

"Welcome back to duty, Director!" Returning to his own desk, Zhao Pu immediately walked over with a smile, and the other Chongzheng academicians also cast glances his way.

"I was at leisure in my residence, yet I put Academician Zhao to the trouble of handling affairs—I am grateful for your hard work and care!" Zhao Yan replied modestly.

Zhao Pu said: "It is only proper. His Majesty trusts you, and the Director is cordial—I naturally ought to do my duty!"

"Regarding the investigation of criminal justice matters, the Academician should be aware, yes?" Zhao Yan looked at Zhao Pu.

Zhao Pu nodded.

Zhao Yan said: "His Majesty has instructed that the Chongzheng Hall select two academicians to participate; as for the choice of personnel, the two of us will need to deliberate and select suitable men!"

Zhao Pu was slightly surprised, but quickly concealed it, and replied: "Yes! This matter is troublesome and complex; upon examining all sides, it may implicate local governance and the right and wrong of officials. It is not an easy assignment, and once gone, one cannot return for months or even half a year. Though the Chongzheng Hall has no shortage of talented men, we truly do need to select suitable candidates!"

Glancing around, Zhao Yan asked: "Where is Guo Tong? Was he on duty last night?"

Zhao Pu smiled: "He requested leave, and His Majesty specially granted it!"

"......"

The Duke of Xing's mansion, compared to its usual calm or even quiet, was now a scene of bustle, and within the bustle was a touch of warmth. Servants came and went attending to guests, carrying trays and dishes—a family banquet, rarely so lavish.

Guo Wei's return to the capital was, after all, a rare occasion, and all his sons, daughters, sons-in-law, and nephews in the capital—the whole family, large and small—had gathered in full. Seated in the host's place, looking at this hall full of children and grandchildren, the thriving state of his ducal mansion, Guo Wei was deeply moved. Before the founding of the dynasty, he would not have dared imagine his family could enjoy such prosperity today.

But, a man without long-term worries must have near-term concerns; beneath the splendor, hidden dangers lurked! Though he did not show it, doubt always lingered at the bottom of Guo Wei's heart, and since returning to the capital, that sense of unease had only grown stronger.

The banquet gradually reached its peak. After accepting the toasts of his juniors, Guo Wei set down his cup. Noticing his movement, the sounds of discussion and conversation gradually died down, and all looked at Guo Wei in surprise.

With a solemn expression, Guo Wei swept his dignified gaze over his children and said: "I was originally but a common soldier under Gaozu's banner. Fortunately, he thought highly of me, raised me from humble obscurity, and let me participate in confidential affairs. Since the founding of the dynasty, I have received the great favor of two emperors, repeatedly promoted and rewarded, ennobled and advanced in rank, until I have attained my present prominence.

Among you, the lowest official rank or military grade is the sixth rank—this too is the grace of His Majesty and the state. Throughout the entire court, there are few families as distinguished as the Guo family."

At this point, Guo Wei's tone suddenly shifted, becoming somewhat stern: "But a man must know to cherish his blessings and be content! His Majesty appreciates and promotes our Guo family—you must know gratitude. Do not take it for granted, do not think it is your due, and above all, do not presume upon favor and grow arrogant!

You are all my closest family, bound by blood. When you conduct yourselves outside, you may feel that everything goes smoothly, and others flatter and yield to you. But this is not a good thing—others are all looking at my face, fearing the power of the Guo family. If one day the Guo family's power is gone, what then?

You must learn to be humble, to be modest, and not to be overbearing and ostentatious. Since returning to the capital, I have heard that extravagance is gradually growing in the capital, and the sons of the powerful and noble are arrogant and domineering. I see that you too now wear fine embroidered garments and adorn yourselves with gold and silver.

I care not what came before, but from now on, all of you remember this: restrain your conduct. If anyone, relying on the Guo family's power, breaks the law and violates discipline, I will personally bind him and deliver him to the judicial authorities for punishment!"

"Yes!" As Guo Wei finished speaking, a host of sons and nephews hurriedly responded, all with lowered eyes and meek expressions.

Perhaps because of Guo Wei's speech, the atmosphere at the banquet cooled somewhat. It was the matriarch, Lady Zhang, with a face full of kind smiles, who urged everyone to eat.

Seeing that Guo Wei still wore a stern face, Lady Zhang could not help but say to him: "The banquet was arranged by you, the family gathered by you. You've given your lecture—now have some food!"

With his wife livening the atmosphere, Guo Wei's expression finally softened, and he raised his cup to invite all to drink together.

And Guo Wei's words did have an effect—those below reacted differently. Guo Rong sat upright, his bearing and manner almost identical to Guo Wei's; he had always been the one to set Guo Wei's mind at ease. Zhang Yongde sat there with a smile on his lips, always wearing the humble, agreeable face of a "good child." As for Li Chongjin, the four characters "I do as I please" were practically written on his face—he still needed Guo Wei to knock some sense into him. Guo Tong was clever and experienced, and serving at the Chongzheng Hall, he could understand his father's pains. As for the other extras, their future conduct would tell.

The atmosphere in the hall warmed again. Guo Wei held his youngest son, Guo Yi, in his arms—three years without seeing him had made the boy somewhat distant, and closeness needed to be restored.

The womenfolk gathered together. A young beauty in a green gauze skirt, wearing pearl flowers in her hair, lightly powdered and rouged, fresh and lovely, could not help but mutter to the beautiful young matron beside her: "Fourth Sister, Father is so fierce!"

Hearing this, the young matron could not help but cover her mouth and chuckle: "Fifth Sister, if you speak of Father like that and he finds out..."

The young beauty was none other than Guo Ning, the fifth daughter of the Guo family. Seeing her sister's reaction, she smiled like a blooming flower: "Sister, you won't tattle on me, will you?"

"How could I?" The young matron's beautiful eyes were full of mirth: "And how would I dare? You are about to enter the palace—how would I dare offend a future imperial consort?"

"Why do you speak of such things?" Teased thus by the young matron, a flush of shy red immediately spread across Guo Ning's pretty face.

"It's only a matter of time. And my fifth sister is shy..."

Many things often prove prophetic. The family banquet was in full swing when the steward came to report that an imperial envoy had arrived from the palace. Guo Wei felt a subconscious start of surprise and hurriedly led the entire family, old and young, to receive him.

Soon, his heart settled—the one who came was Zhang Dejun, the chief eunuch and head of the palace eunuchs by the emperor's side, accompanied by two officials from the Ministry of Rites. They arrived beaming with joy, bearing an auspicious edict of the emperor's betrothal to the fifth daughter of the Guo family.

This piece of good news made the Guo mansion's banquet even more lively—it was the emperor who, hearing that it happened to be an auspicious day, had specially added this bit of festivity to the Guo mansion.

"Fifth Sister, I was right, wasn't I? Congratulations are in order!" The young matron leaned close to Guo Ning's ear, her jade-like face full of smiles.

The young beauty, not yet married out, was overcome with shyness, her fair face flushed crimson. After bowing to Guo Wei and his wife, she fled back to her chambers.

That very night, Guo Wei's words at the banquet were transmitted to Liu Chengyou's ears with great efficiency. The bright yellow lamplight shone upon a face as calm as an ancient well. Flipping through the record personally presented by Li Chongju, he was silent for a long time, until a trace of a smile finally broke the calm on Liu Chengyou's face.

Liu Chengyou's feelings were inevitably somewhat complex—the former "usurper of the state" had now become a loyal, humble, pillar-of-the-state worthy minister. He sighed inwardly: Minister Guo, oh Minister Guo, you understand advance and retreat so well that you make me, your emperor, seem petty and suspicious.

At the same time, thoughts of this kind could not help but surface in Liu Chengyou's mind: Was this merely Guo Wei's facade? Or, knowing there were informants, did he deliberately say it for the emperor to hear?

No matter how tangled and complex his feelings, Liu Chengyou's favor toward the Guo family grew day by day. On the first day of the seventh month of the eighth year of Qianyou, in autumn, the Emperor of Han formally took the fifth daughter of the Guo family into the palace, bestowing upon her the title of Consort Ning.