Chapter 336: A Private Visit

These Embroidered Uniform Guard officers cleared all unrelated people from the surrounding area in a very short time. Officers with drawn blades stood guard before every household door in the alley, and the household retainers and servants who had been outside some residences were driven back inside, then ordered under the officers' shouts to shut their front doors tightly. Throughout the entire alley, there was no trace of outsiders besides the Embroidered Uniform Guard officers.

Not long afterward, two carriages bearing no obvious markings drove into the alley one after the other. Dozens of guards clad in blue cloth robes over concealed armor followed closely around and before and behind the second carriage, while riders on horseback could be seen patrolling back and forth at both ends of the alley.

After the two carriages entered the alley, Sun Yongsheng, the Chiliarch of the Western City Chiliarchy of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, hurried forward with several Centurions under his command, then turned to lead the carriages onward.

The carriages did not travel long through the fairly spacious alley before stopping before the main gate of a residence, where groups of officers were keeping watch all around.

Luo Yangxing, dressed in plain blue clothes, opened the carriage door and jumped out before the vehicle had even come to a full stop, then hurried quickly toward the door of the second carriage.

Once the second carriage had come to a halt, Luo Yangxing stepped forward and opened the door. Wang Cheng'en jumped down nimbly, then brought out a brocade stool from the carriage. Zhu Youjian, dressed in a fitted blue robe, bent low as he emerged from the carriage, stepped down onto the brocade stool, and descended from the carriage. After standing firm, he cast a glance to both sides, then clasped his hands behind his back and strode toward the gate.

The residence before him was Sun Chuanting's new home in the capital, formerly the dwelling of Wang Yongguang, the former Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Wang Yongguang had been dismissed from office and sent back to his native place in the eighth year of Chongzhen. Last year, Zhu Youjian had bestowed this residence upon Sun Chuanting and arranged for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to escort his family from Daizhou into this new home in the capital.

The inner quarters of the Sun residence were filled with a joyful atmosphere. Though the sky had not yet darkened, lit lanterns hung from every pavilion, terrace, and tower in the courtyard. Whether masters or maidservants and servants, everyone had changed into brand-new robes, shoes, and socks, and walked with extremely light steps, every face wearing a smile that came from the heart.

In the kitchen of the side courtyard behind the inner residence, several cookwomen were busily at work, the flames in several stoves burning fiercely. The countertops in the kitchen were covered with all manner of ingredients and seasonings. Several maidservants in short jackets and skirts were waiting outside the kitchen. As soon as a dish was finished and plated by the cookwomen inside, a maidservant outside would come in, pack it into a food box, then carry the box and hurry toward the flower hall of the side courtyard.

In the main hall of the inner residence, seated upright in an armchair at the center, was Sun née Li. Her hair was styled in a high mountain-cloud bun, with false hairpieces and ornamental flower ornaments at her temples. She wore a grand embroidered cape of gold thread with a large floral pattern and six emerald-green peacocks embroidered upon it, adorned with gold beads and jade ornaments, with gold pendant earrings. Sun Chuanting, dressed in a plain blue robe, knelt before her together with his wife Sun née Liu, while their two children, Sun Kedi and Sun Yan, knelt behind them.

"Today is the happy occasion of Mother's sixtieth birthday. Your son Chuanting, together with my wife Sun née Liu, my son Kedi, and my daughter Yan'er, respectfully wish Mother a spring that never ages at the Jasper Pool and auspicious days ever unfolding in your realm of longevity!"

Having recited this in a loud voice, the beaming Sun Chuanting and his family of four together kowtowed three times to Sun née Li seated in the chair.

"My son, rise quickly! Liu, grandson, granddaughter, rise as well! This old woman, through my son's good fortune, has been graced by His Majesty with the title of Second-Rank Lady of Honor. This is the supreme glory of our Sun family! The favor His Majesty has shown the Sun family is one that we, from top to bottom, could never repay even if we ground our bones to dust! From now on, my son must remember one thing: wherever His Majesty points is where my son must go! There is no need to think of anything else!"

Sun née Li, radiant with joy, sat upright in the armchair and earnestly admonished Sun Chuanting.

Being able to wear this magnificent Second-Rank Lady of Honor's attire was all thanks to her son. When had the old Sun family ever seen such a glory-bringing matter as producing both a Second-Rank Lady of Honor and a First-Rank high official at the same time?

Gazing at her son, so tall and robust of build, Sun née Li's heart was filled with pride, and her eyes brimmed with doting affection.

"Please rest assured, Mother. Your son will surely keep your teachings firmly in mind, making the Emperor's will and the public good my foremost concerns, setting personal interest aside, to aid His Majesty in founding the Great Ming's unparalleled enterprise! For now, I must trouble Mother to remain seated. I have already sent someone to engage Liu Wubing, a famed painter of the capital, to come and paint Mother's portrait, so that future generations of our Sun family may gaze upon it! This may take somewhat long. If Mother feels any discomfort, please tell someone, and we will rest before continuing the painting!"

Sun Chuanting bowed and replied.

"Good, good, good! Your mother has noted it! My son, take Kedi and go attend to your affairs elsewhere. Your mother will be fine with Liu and Yan'er keeping me company!"

Sun née Li nodded with a smile in agreement. Sun Chuanting bowed, then left the main hall with his son Sun Kedi, preparing to go to the side courtyard to see how far the birthday feast preparations had progressed. His friends would all be bringing their female family members, and the inner-residence banquet was prepared for those ladies.

For his mother's sixtieth birthday this time, Sun Chuanting had not made a great public show of it, only inviting a few of his former fellow examination candidates still in the capital to come for a meal and drink. It was still early in the day; his friends had perhaps just finished their duties and returned home, and some time would likely pass before they tidied themselves up and arrived at the Sun residence.

Sun Chuanting was strolling with his hands clasped behind his back, just about to turn through a moon gate at one side, when a household-born maidservant of the Sun family came running over in haste: "Eldest Young Master, Steward Sun outside the courtyard has sent me to inform you that an honored guest has arrived at the residence, saying he comes from the palace. Please go quickly to receive him, Eldest Young Master!"

In the inner quarters of a great household, men other than the master were forbidden to enter. Even an old steward like Sun Chengwen was not permitted, and any matter had to be communicated through the maidservants at the inner gate before proceeding.

"An honored personage from the palace? Could His Majesty be summoning me to court for an audience? Could some urgent matter have arisen?"

Sun Chuanting unconsciously quickened his pace as he pondered, while Sun Kedi, already eighteen years old, followed at his father's heels.

He was, after all, still young at heart. Though he had come to the capital last year to study at the Imperial Academy, he rarely had the chance to see outsiders on ordinary days, so Sun Kedi was extremely curious about all new things. He very much wanted to see what an honored personage from the palace looked like.

Sun Chuanting did not stop his son. At eighteen, the boy was already an adult, and it was time he followed at his father's side to gain experience of the world.

His son was clever and studious, yet far more tactful in temperament than himself. So long as he passed both the provincial and metropolitan examinations in succession in the future, given time, his accomplishments need not fall far short of his father's.

Father and son hurried out through the inner gate of the residence and strode swiftly along. They had just passed through the main hall and entered the third courtyard, the principal one, when they saw that the broad courtyard was already filled with blue-clad warriors, and all the household's servants and maidservants had vanished from sight.

A dozen or so paces before the steps below the hall, a young man in a plain blue robe stood with his hands clasped behind his back, smiling as he regarded father and son. Two middle-aged men with unfamiliar faces stood one to each side behind the young man, likewise sizing them up with looks full of curiosity.

Startled for a moment, Sun Chuanting immediately recovered. He lifted one corner of his robe with a single hand, hurried down the steps, and knelt on the ground: "Your servant Sun Chuanting pays homage to Your Majesty! Your servant did not know Your Majesty was coming and failed to welcome you from afar. This is truly a breach of propriety. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"

Sun Kedi reacted swiftly and had long since followed his father down the steps to kneel behind him: "Your humble servant Sun Kedi pays homage to Your Majesty!"

Thanks to the favor bestowed upon his father, Sun Kedi now also held the rank of Centurion in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so he need not style himself a commoner.

"Haha! Both Ministers Sun, rise! I am an uninvited guest today, so I do not fault you for the lapse in etiquette!"

Zhu Youjian walked slowly to stand before Sun Chuanting and his son, and with a smile made a gesture of raising them up with both hands. Sun Chuanting and his son thanked His Majesty for his grace and rose to their feet.

"I happened to hear that a birthday celebration was being held in Minister Sun's residence, so I came specially to beg a cup of birthday wine! Hehe! Why has my minister not invited me inside for tea? I did not come empty-handed today, you know! Hahaha!"

Zhu Youjian, in a good mood of late, was rare in teasing this important minister.

"Hehe! Your servant, upon suddenly seeing Your Majesty arrive in person, was so startled that I committed one breach of propriety after another! Your Majesty, please come inside to rest and have some tea!"

Zhu Youjian's relaxed tone put Sun Chuanting and his son at ease. Sun Chuanting smiled and gestured respectfully for Zhu Youjian to enter the house. Cheng Qianli, who had been standing not far from Zhu Youjian all along, led several guards into the main hall ahead of them.

Zhu Youjian, unconcerned, clasped his hands behind his back and stepped up the stairs into the room. Wang Cheng'en and Luo Yangxing followed closely behind him, and as they passed Sun Chuanting, both sides exchanged smiles and cupped-hand salutes.