Chapter 206: Official, you

Xingguo Lane,

Marquis Ningyuan's residence.

Bai Shi sat on the chair, looking seriously at the two couples from the fourth and fifth branches who were talking in the hall.

"Sister-in-law, you and Brother-in-law should discuss it, it's better to prepare to abandon this Xu family woman!"

Gu Junkai of the Gu family's fourth branch said anxiously.

Hearing his fourth brother's words, Gu Lunkai of the fifth branch continued:

"Their youngest son caused such a disaster. My Yang brother is on good terms with the Duke of Korea's Fifth Young Master, and he has already inquired carefully. It was because of a lowly-registered musician that the Zhu family had a conflict with the Bai Gao Kingdom envoy group!"

"Brother-in-law was summoned into the palace, definitely to discuss how to face the Bai Gao Kingdom's revenge. Sister-in-law, let's think more about it!"

Gu Tingyu, who was at the door, lifted the curtain and walked in. Looking at his fourth and fifth uncles sitting there, he said:

"Why don't you fourth and fifth branches move out? That way, naturally, you won't be implicated!"

"I, you, Eldest Brother, how are you talking? We move out, who will give us..."

"How am I talking? How are you talking as elders? Don't make your nephew have to lay things out one by one to talk about."

"You, wait until my eldest brother returns to the residence, let's see how he teaches you a lesson..."

Bai Shi looked at the ring on her hand and said softly: "Pingmei entered the Gu family door, she is a Gu family woman. Don't say anything else."

"But, what if the Xu family is punished? Our family will be dragged down to death!"

Said the mistress of the fourth branch.

Bai Shi said: "Dragged down? Has the eldest branch been dragged down little?"

The fourth branch looked embarrassed.

The mistress of the fifth branch smiled awkwardly.

Main street inside Wansheng Gate.

Xiaoya Lane.

Ni Qiqiu had just sent the New Year things to the Ni family with the maids and servants.

At the gate of the Ni family's big mansion, Ni Tengyue, the eldest brother of the Ni family, looked at his eldest sister and said: "Sister, I have already remembered the explanation you just gave. Also, don't worry, I will take good care of the two of them."

"Hmm, Tengyue, your brother-in-law's official career is good now, you also have to study hard, don't let the Ni family's door lintel continue to decline."

"I will follow my sister's teachings."

Ni Tengyue, who was about the same age as Zaizhang, bowed and replied.

At this time,

a maid of the Sun family jumped off the carriage in a hurry and said:

"Madam Ni, Brother Zhu, he is in trouble, and it's not good for the Marquis's residence either."

"What?"

Ni Tengyue hurriedly supported his eldest sister and looked back at the other two little ones: "Lock the door, accompany sister to see."

Xu Zaijing was pulled into the imperial palace for an hour and a half.

Marquis Jinghai.

Huyan family.

Seeing Hu Yanjiong looked at his mother from time to time.

"Brother Jiong, what's wrong?"

"Mother, are you okay? You weren't angered by Wu Daniang, were you?"

Madam Pan looked at her personal nanny and said: "He has improved!" 【206

The personal maid smiled, nodded, and said, "What the Da Niangzi says is correct."

Seeing Hu Yanjiong revealed a look of confusion, then lowered his head somewhat embarrassedly: "Mother, what do you mean by this!"

"It means drawing a clear line with the Xu family."

Listening to Da Niangzi Pan's words

Seeing Hu Yanjiong suddenly raised his head. Upon seeing the playfulness and smiles in the eyes of his mother and the maid, Seeing Hu Yanjiong said: "Mother, Maid, you two were just like that a moment ago! Now why..."

Da Niangzi Pan said: "Jiong Ge'er, first of all, we and the Xu family were only connected through the matchmaking of Da Niangzi Wu, and the betrothal papers haven't even been exchanged."

Looking at her son who was hesitant to speak, Da Niangzi Pan continued: "Secondly, your mother has taken a fancy to the Xu family's young lady, especially since a month after the New Year, this young lady has lost her previous arrogance and has become much more sensible."

"Thirdly, and most importantly, what do you think of the several cousins from your eldest aunt's maternal family? What kind of people do they associate with?"

Looking at Seeing Hu Yanjiong, Da Niangzi Pan said: "Inquiries from all sides show that there are different versions of the situation in the building. However! As a child of a noble family, to actually call a musician who is unwilling to play 'The Loyal Soul Song of Yanzhou' in front of the Bai Gao people a 'vile person'? Who exactly is the vile person!"

Seeing Hu Yanjiong looked at his mother with some admiration.

"It just so happens that Dengzhou has sent many good things. Jiong Ge'er, you pick some good ones and send them to the Xu family, just say it is a New Year's gift because the New Year is approaching."

"Yes, Mother."

In the afternoon,

When Xu Minghua and his eldest son were still in the Tianwu military camp, they were told about Zhu Qinghu's matter by someone sent by Sun Shi.

When the father and son arrived at Pan Lou, Xu Zaijing had already finished beating the person and had been sent to the imperial palace in a carriage guarded by the Great Zhou Imperial Guards.

Xu Minghua followed the motorcade, submitted his calling card at the palace gate, and was soon summoned into the palace.

Xu Zaiduan was ordered by his father to return to Quyuanjie.

When he reached the entrance of the street,

Everything in the Marquis's residence was still no different from before.

At the first moment the incident occurred, Sun Shi, having received the news, understood the cause of the matter.

Afterward, she went to the Ningyuan Marquis's residence and the military camp outside the city.

However, after Xu Zaijing arrived at Pan Lou,

With the words of the idlers who kept coming to the Xu family's main gate to report after receiving reward money, the atmosphere of the entire Marquis's residence began to grow tense.

Sun Shi already understood the ins and outs of the whole matter and was prepared for what was to come.

Soon, the Ni family's young lady arrived at Quyuanjie accompanied by her Sun family sisters-in-law and the three little ones of the Ni family.

At this time, the sky had already turned dark, and the officials and nobles of Bianjing had also been summoned into the palace.

Sun Shi looked at her maternal relatives and her nephew's wife in the courtyard. Knowing about Xu Zaijing's affair with the imperial prince in the palace earlier, she did not feel much panic.

She calmly and meticulously explained the whole matter.

Finally, looking at Ni Qiqiu, who had been listening in silence, she said:

"Autumn Sister, since you arrived at the house, you haven't said a word. What are your thoughts?"

Ni Qiqiu stood up, curtsied, and said:

"Master Tang not playing the pipa is a matter of great righteousness for the country. The gentleman protecting Da Niangzi Yang is also knowing gratitude and repaying kindness. The gentleman's comrades-in-arms are filled with righteous indignation; these are all righteous acts. The nephew's wife has nothing to say. Even if the gentleman is convicted because of this, I am willing to accompany him."

Hearing these words, Sun Shi nodded slightly.

Ni Tengyue, who was on the side, said with a face full of anger:

"This Bai Gao envoy actually made a Bianjing pipa master perform 'The Loyal Soul Song of Yanzhou' in public in front of the Bai Gao people, using our Great Zhou's loyal soldiers as a pretext! Such a base act! Not human!"

"It should be that our Great Zhou envoy goes to the city of Bai Gao and publicly asks the Bai Gao imperial family what 'Juyu' (incest) is!"

A Sun family sister-in-law on the side asked in a low voice: "What does this Yue Ge'er mean?"

"The founding emperor of Bai Gao fooled around with the Crown Princess and was stabbed to death by the Crown Prince."

Xu Zaizhang, who was sitting on a chair, explained.

"It really is..."

The eldest Sun family sister-in-law said: "With such origins, even if it is because of Jing Ge'er, and the two countries go to war, the Marquis's residence should be fine. But, our old lady at home is worried and only let me say that if necessary, the Sun family will send someone to beg the third master of the Cao family, which would be enough to protect your children, Tenth Da Niangzi, so do not worry too much."

Xie Shi and Hualan, who were standing behind Sun Shi, looked at each other, and the eyes of the two daughters-in-law were filled with emotion.

"Sister-in-law, I also feel that my family will definitely be fine. So, to avoid worrying our parents at home, sisters-in-law should go back, and leave the Ni girl here with me."

"What Tenth Da Niangzi thinks is right! Then, shall we go?"

A whole crowd of Sun family sisters-in-law left the Xu family.

When seeing them off, Hualan whispered beside her mother-in-law: "Mother, then I will send someone to notify the Sheng family, so as not to worry the family."

"Go."

The first to arrive at the edge of the imperial palace were the capable clerks from various government offices.

Master Tang, Yang Luoyou, Zhu Qinghu's comrades-in-arms, the Pan Lou waiter Min Ge'er, and others were all separated to be questioned by the clerks, with scribes sitting on the side quickly recording.

At the same time, there were female physicians checking the injuries on the scalps and faces of Master Tang and Yang Luoyou.

There were also people looking at the personal 'cotton-padded jacket' on Zhu Qinghu's body.

When the high-ranking officials of Great Zhou in Bianjing came for the 'evening court', the full picture of what happened at Pan Lou had already been mostly inquired about by the capable clerks.

They handed the 'records' they had each finished to the small eunuch who came forward. After the small eunuch took them, he quickly returned to the palace where the Emperor was.

Slowly, high-ranking officials from the court, at different distances from the imperial palace, arrived one after another, reading the specific details of this incident.

The Emperor, behind the imperial desk, was reading the secret files just sent by the two special agencies by the bright candlelight.

"Cough, cough."

Hearing the Emperor's cough, the voices of discussion in the palace study room lowered.

Looking at the ministers sitting on the embroidered stools, the Emperor said:

"You ministers also know the specific matters. As for what should be done, let us discuss it."

"Your Majesty, the Bai Gao envoy provoked our Great Zhou so arrogantly and rudely. I think the result is very satisfying to the people!"

"Your Majesty, please think twice. When two countries are at war, one does not behead the envoy. At this time, the Great Zhou and Bai Gao are still at peace. An envoy of a country is, after all, a guest. I think it is inappropriate to treat a guest this way!"

"Grand Chancellor, you just said it was satisfying to the people, but if there are changes between the Zhou and Liao countries in the future, our Great Zhou will still need to unite with Bai Gao to deal with Northern Liao. If we offend them now, what should we do in the future?"

"Your Majesty, I have read the document. The cause of the matter was that the Tang-surnamed musician was unwilling to play. This is the cause of the matter. Punishing that musician and giving Bai Gao an explanation will suffice!"

"Yang Zhou, as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, your subordinate officials should have stopped the Bai Gao envoy in person when they made such a rude request to play 'The Loyal Soul Song of Yanzhou'. If that had been the case, how could there have been the subsequent events!"

"It is clearly the dereliction of duty of you officials of the Ministry of Rites, how can you speak of punishing the musician!"

Hearing the words of Li Guangren, the Minister of Personnel, the high-ranking officials in the hall looked at each other.

That Ministry of Rites official sat uneasily on the embroidered stool as if there were thorns on it, and looked at the Emperor with a somewhat ashamed expression.

The pure-stream high officials and noble military generals in the hall who had not spoken looked at Minister Li with full approval; this was the key to the matter.

"Hmm, Marquis Tuoxi?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, I think Minister Li is right."

"The eldest son of the Duke of England's family?"

The eldest son of the Duke of England, who was standing among the noble military generals, stood up, bowed, and said:

"Your Majesty, we small ministers have been guarding against Northern Liao in the north and have never thought of relying on other countries! I also think Minister Li is right."

Yang Zhou, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, stood up and said.

"But, Your Majesty, you have also seen the state letter submitted by Bai Gao this afternoon. The status of that injured attendant in Bai Gao is truly noble. If we don't give them an explanation, I..."

"Ministry of Rites, you may withdraw first."

The Minister of Rites did not speak throughout the whole process. Hearing the Emperor's order, he stood up, saluted, and walked out dejectedly.

The Emperor looked at his back and said: "Pretending to be an attendant and secretly shooting cold arrows, what do you ministers think of this person?"

Huangfu, the Minister of Justice, stood up and said: "Your Majesty, I dare to ask what this person's status is?"

"He is the younger brother-in-law of Empress Dowager Liang of Bai Gao."

Hearing the Emperor's plain words, Minister Huangfu was stunned: "Is he a member of the Li imperial family of Bai Gao, a prince with real power in Bai Gao?"

"Correct."

Hearing Minister Huangfu's words, many high-ranking officials in the hall whispered to each other.

Amidst the buzzing voices, this Minister of Justice said:

"Your Majesty, I observe that this person has deep thoughts, a vicious mind, a resilient character, and ruthless methods, and acts decisively. He is truly a scourge."

"Oh?"

Hearing the Emperor's question and the somewhat curious gazes of his colleagues, Minister Huangfu lowered his head and said:

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Bai Gao was actually able to humble himself and pretend to be an attendant, letting people play the Great Zhou's loyal and heroic music to entertain the Bai Gao envoy, which shows his deep thoughts! He also struck hard at those who acted righteously for Great Zhou, and when he encountered a brave youth like the fifth son of the Xu family, he used base and ruthless methods to harm him! This shows he acts decisively!

Your Majesty, this petty person's thoughts were aimed at the patriotism of the people of Great Zhou! If it weren't for this Tang-surnamed musician refusing to play, if it weren't for this Commandant Zhu acting righteously, if it weren't for a brave youth like the fifth son of the Xu family,

letting the soldiers on the front line know that 'The Loyal Soul Song of Yanzhou' was actually used to please the Bai Gao people! What would the consequences be! This shows his vicious mind!"

The Emperor sitting behind the imperial desk looked at the Great Zhou nobles under the candlelight.

In Minister Huangfu's words,

The Duke of England, Marquis Tuoxi, Marquis Ningyuan, Marquis Yongyi, and others seemed to have foreseen this situation, and their breathing became somewhat heavy. The younger military generals, such as the eldest son of the Zhang family, stood up directly and bowed, saying:

"Your Majesty, if it is truly as Minister Huangfu said, that would be disturbing the morale of the army and reducing fighting spirit. The consequences... are unimaginable!"

The Emperor waved his hand to signal the eldest son of the Zhang family to sit down and said: "Then, in that case, this Master Tang not playing this music for the Bai Gao people is a noble act and should be heavily rewarded!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The important ministers in the hall said in unison with great tacit understanding.

"This musician named Yang Luoyou, hmm, she is also a former head of the troupe, was able to extend a helping hand and even composed music about the Zhu family. She is virtuous and talented, and should also be rewarded!"

"We ministers second this!"

"Zhu Qinghu, hmm, looking at the record of the incident above, he used his own salary to subsidize Master Yang to compose music, and acted righteously when he encountered Great Zhou commoners being bullied by foreigners. None of his comrades-in-arms begged for mercy or admitted defeat! Not bad! Chancellor Li?"

Li Guangren, the Minister of Personnel, hurriedly stood up and said: "Calculate his military merits and promote him."

"Good!"

Afterward, the hall fell into a silence.

Because there was still a 'troublemaker' kneeling in the palace.

The Emperor behind the imperial desk was silent for a long time.

After more than ten breaths,

Xu Minghua stood up, bowed, and said: "Your Majesty, my son is young and vigorous, relies on his martial arts to be brave and fierce, disregarded diplomatic relations, and beat and injured others. I ask Your Majesty to punish him."

Hearing Xu Minghua's words, the Emperor thought of the cushion under Xu Zaijing's knees just now.

One must know that the Emperor had such a robust imperial prince, whom he loved from the bottom of his heart, and treated the imperial prince extremely well.

But even so, after this cushion under Xu Zaijing's knees was sent into the palace, he had not been allowed to use it at will.

"Hmph!"

In the hall, Xu Minghua bowed even lower.

"Your Majesty, I think Marquis Xu is wrong!"

Hearing the voice, the Emperor looked over and found that it was the Duke of England who was speaking.

The Duke of England, whose beard and hair had begun to turn from black to white, continued:

"If a young person isn't vigorous, can they still be called a young person?"

"With such martial arts, should he have turned a blind eye in our Great Zhou capital to the fact that his countrymen were humiliated and soldiers who had rendered meritorious service to the country were injured? Should he not have taken action to teach the wolf of ambition a lesson? Should standing by and watching be worthy of praise?"

The Emperor looked at a piece of paper in his hand, listening to the Duke of England and Xu Minghua singing in harmony, and he raised his eyebrows.

(End of chapter)