: Why is it him again?

A family banquet was in full swing in the side hall of Rongxi Hall in Rongguo Mansion.

The day after the Emperor's birthday, a family banquet was held at the Jia residence. Although not as grand as in the palace, it was still filled with delicacies and clinking glasses. And because it was a family banquet, the atmosphere was relatively relaxed.

After a few rounds of drinks, Jia She inevitably drank a few more cups, and his conversation became more animated, tinged with some complaints.

"Speaking of which, yesterday was the Emperor's birthday. Back when Father was alive, on such a day, our family would definitely be invited to the palace to offer congratulations, receive a banquet, and be presented with wine. That was truly a display of imperial grace and prestige! Nowadays... hehe, a middle-class family like ours is increasingly out of the Emperor's sight."

His words were laced with sarcasm, and Jia Zheng frowned slightly upon hearing them, but refrained from responding.

My older brother is still so unreliable. Who knows if the walls are overheard?

Sitting below Grandmother Jia, Tan Chun, quick-witted and alert, noticed the somber atmosphere and smiled as she spoke up: "Master, you are mistaken. Didn't the palace send someone to bestow a favor upon Grandmother yesterday? It was Grandmother's kind instruction that she, being a woman of advanced age, could not bear the tedious formalities and thus politely declined the invitation to enter the palace. Such dignity is truly genuine."

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia nodded slightly, a calm smile on her face, presumably quite satisfied with this explanation.

Then, she slowly and deliberately twirled her prayer beads and said, "Third Sister is right. What would an old woman like me do there? It would be too uncomfortable."

However, Jia She, who was sitting below, sneered inwardly upon hearing this.

"A woman? Too old? Humph, Mother, do you really think I'm stupid? You're so biased to the core!"

Jia She knew perfectly well that if Grandmother Jia really wanted to enter the palace, according to the rules, the only people she could bring were himself, the eldest son who inherited the title, and his wife, Lady Xing, who also held an imperial title!

The mother felt ashamed to take herself and Xing out, and she was unwilling to take Madam Wang from the second branch of the family to the first branch, so she simply used "disliking crowds" as an excuse to not even leave the house!

She would rather forgo this dignity than let Jia She's branch of the family benefit from it. The resentment and anger she felt caused Jia She to tighten his grip on his wine cup.

Am I adopted?

Although Jia Zheng disliked his elder brother's complaints, he was well aware of his mother's thoughts.

Jia Zheng also disagreed, feeling that his mother's actions were too stubborn and lacked the dignity of a large family. However, as a son, he could not comment, so his expression darkened.

Just as the atmosphere at the table became somewhat awkward because of this topic, Lin Zhixiao's wife rushed in, her face showing a hint of panic as she reported, "Grandma, gentlemen, madam, Sister Zhou Rui is outside, saying... saying she has something important to report."

Jia Zheng was already displeased, and seeing the servants so flustered, he couldn't help but sternly rebuke them, "What's all this fuss about? Can't you see we're having a meal? What kind of behavior is this!"

Lin Zhixiao's wife trembled with fright and hurriedly explained, "Your Excellency, it's...it's a distinguished guest who came to the door, delivered an invitation, and said they want to...want to meet."

"If you want to meet, then meet; if you want to exchange invitations, then exchange invitations! Is it really necessary for you to panic like this?" Jia Zheng's anger had not subsided.

At this moment, Zhou Rui's wife followed in, her face a mixture of nervousness and excitement, her voice trembling: "Old...Old Madam, Master, Madam! It's...it's Prince Xin's people! They have Prince Xin's visiting card!"

"King Nobu?!"

"Which Prince Xin?"

"Which other Prince Xin is there? It's none other than His Majesty's only younger brother, Chen Jian!"

Jia She, who had been lounging lazily, suddenly sat up straight, while the anger on Jia Zheng's face was instantly replaced by surprise and doubt. Almost simultaneously, one name flashed through everyone's minds—Jia Yun!

Grandmother Jia felt a surge of bitter jealousy rising from her stomach like aged vinegar, so intense it almost made her breathless.

Why is it him again?

Why does all the good things happen to him? Why does all this immense wealth and glory favor that poor, down-on-his-luck kid from the west corridor who lives several floors below me?

She could no longer maintain her composure, and her expression darkened.

Jia Zheng's heart was also filled with turbulent emotions.

Prince Xin is the emperor's only younger brother. Although he has not yet established his own government and still resides in the palace, he is the emperor's closest and most trusted person.

However... although the Emperor's body is currently unwell, the Crown Prince has long been in the Eastern Palace, and the succession is a foregone conclusion. Unless an unforeseen calamity strikes, the practice of brothers succeeding brothers, as seen in the Song Dynasty, will not be repeated in the Han Dynasty.

That means that Prince Xin will eventually be sent to a fiefdom in a few years.

But more importantly, it is rumored that Prince Xin and the powerful and influential Grand Prince are at odds...

Thinking of this, Jia Zheng felt a cold sweat break out on his back. Was Prince Xin's sending someone to the Jia mansion to find Jia Yun a blessing or a curse?

"Quickly! Please come in!" Jia Zheng quickly ordered after realizing what was happening, and he also stood up and straightened his clothes, with Jia She following closely behind.

Before long, a middle-aged eunuch with a fair complexion and no beard, dressed in an indigo-blue eunuch's robe, was led in, followed by two servants. It was none other than Steward Li, who had the chance encounter with Jia Zheng in the west corridor that day!

After entering, Eunuch Li first scanned the hall with his eyes.

Upon seeing Grandmother Jia, a respectful smile immediately spread across his face. He took small steps forward and bowed deeply: "Greetings to the Old Madam. It has been many years since we last met; the Old Madam is in excellent health and spirits, truly blessed."

Grandmother Jia was somewhat displeased by the other party's startled reaction, but after scrutinizing him for a moment, she suddenly realized and her tone carried a hint of affectionate reproach: "You...aren't you the little Li Zi who served the Princess of Nan'an back then? How come you're serving Prince Xin now? No wonder I never saw you when I came and went in the palace in recent years; I assumed you had been transferred elsewhere."

Eunuch Li's smile widened, revealing a hint of joy at meeting an old friend: "It's kind of you that the Dowager still remembers me so fondly. A few years ago, the Dowager felt that Prince Xin was growing up and lacked a close confidant by his side. Considering that I was steady and reliable, she recommended me to serve by Prince Xin's side."

Upon seeing an old friend, Eunuch Li's tone was filled with gratitude: "Speaking of which, the Dowager Consort often mentioned to me the friendship she shared with the Dowager Madam when they were together outside the palace. She said that you two were childhood confidantes, and that the Dowager Madam was the most gentle and considerate person I've ever met."

Upon hearing this, a genuine smile finally appeared on Grandmother Jia's face, and her eyes revealed a gentle reminiscence of the past: "Nan'an... Ah, what a good person he was, so thoughtful in everything. When we were children, we lived on the same street, always doing needlework together and chatting to relieve boredom. It seems like only yesterday."

She sighed softly, with a touch of emotion: "It's a blessing for Prince Xin that she thought of sending you to Prince Xin's side, and it's also your good fortune. Very good, very good."

Eunuch Li quickly bowed and agreed, "That's right. His Highness Prince Xin is kind and generous, and treats his subordinates very leniently. However, since His Highness still resides in the palace and has not yet established his own residence, there are naturally more rules and regulations, unlike the comfortable and carefree life he enjoys at the Old Madam's residence."

Eunuch Li held a proper sixth-rank official position, which wasn't particularly high in the capital city. However, because he frequently served nobles and relayed important messages, even officials of the fourth or fifth rank would bow and address him as "Eunuch Li." Of course, they were respecting the bright yellow figure behind Eunuch Li.

But now, he willingly humbled himself before Grandmother Jia, repeatedly referring to himself as "this servant." The key to this lies in two layers of meaning.

That superficial layer was known to everyone in the capital: the matriarch of the Jia family and the Princess of Nan'an had been close friends for decades, their relationship was extraordinary.

As for the deeper layer, it truly concerns the decorum of the imperial court, the reason why he dared not act recklessly from the bottom of his heart: the old noblewoman with a full head of silver hair before him carried the golden imperial title of "Lady of the Duke of Rongguo, of the highest rank".

According to the etiquette system of this dynasty, the ranks of duke, marquis, and earl were the "superior ranks," even above the first-rank officials. Jia Mu's late husband, the old Duke of Rongguo, was a first-rank duke conferred upon him at the founding of the dynasty.

After her husband's death, she was granted an imperial decree by the court as the first wife, with a rank comparable to that of a duke, making her a truly "superior" noblewoman.

Let alone a mere sixth-rank eunuch like him, even a second-rank official from one of the Six Ministries would have to bow and address her respectfully as "Old Madam."

Therefore, his kneeling and bowing were not to pay homage to Grandmother Jia herself, but to the imperial edict and iron certificate behind her that symbolized the founding merits of the dynasty, the imperial plaque with the words "Imperial Decree to Build Rongguo Mansion" hanging in the main hall of the Jia family, and even more so to the strict etiquette that maintained the majesty of the imperial family and the relationship between the emperor and his subjects.

The two men's casual conversation eased the tense atmosphere in the hall.

But as Jia Zheng, Jia She, and the others listened with their hands down, their hearts were stirred with even greater turmoil—this eunuch Li was no ordinary palace attendant; he was actually a close attendant personally selected and sent by the Princess Consort of Nan'an for Prince Xin.

The two brothers quickly exchanged a glance, both seeing the same surprise and doubt in each other's eyes: What kind of status does Prince Xin have, having grown up in the palace since childhood? Would he not have a "grand attendant" eunuch assigned by the Imperial Household Department and who has accompanied him since childhood?

The Dowager Princess of Nan'an's actions were ostensibly out of concern. But upon closer examination, this arrangement seems more like... sending a pair of eyes and ears!

After the pleasantries were over, Jia Zheng quickly steered the conversation back to business: "May I ask what brings Eunuch Li here...?"

Eunuch Li's gaze swept across everyone's faces, his smile unchanged: "I am here on the orders of His Highness Prince Xin to find someone. Is your son, Jia Yun, at home today?"

The question immediately fell silent.

Jia Yun? What kind of young master is he? He's just a distant relative living in the west corridor; he's not even qualified to attend the family banquet in Rongxi Hall!

But how should I answer that?