Chapter 1073
The Eldest Young Master's Ingenious Plan
Chapter 1073 The Eldest Young Master's Ingenious Plan
A gentle breeze was blowing.
The wind from Qinghu blows through the bamboo grove behind the restaurant, causing the bamboo and cypress trees to sway and make a rustling sound.
In the second-floor lobby
The guests exchanged greetings, completing the proper etiquette. The Marquis of Xiangyang and his eldest son surprisingly sat side-by-side, next to the Marquis of Luoyun. Opposite them were the King of Wei, the King of Chu, the King of Beijing, and the King of Dongping, sipping tea and listening to music, seemingly lost in thought, unmoved by external circumstances.
On the west side of the stairs, there was a high platform where people invited from the Taoyuan Opera Troupe were singing Kunqu Opera in the Luanshan style. The rhythm and cadence were unique and artistic. This style of opera has now spread throughout the capital and the surrounding areas, presenting a confrontational situation with the Shuimo Opera style of Jiangnan.
This was something Zhang Jinyu hadn't expected.
"Young Master, please try the Cloud Mist Tea here. This was specially brought from His Highness's residence. It is said that Cloud Mist Tea from Mirror Lake in Jiangnan is hard to come by. Now, I am offering this tea to you all."
Zhang Jinyu pointed to a pot of tea on the table and addressed the eldest son, Li Chaosheng. As soon as they sat down, a maid from the Prince's residence served them tea and pastries. The offerings were modest: a pot of tea, a plate of melon seeds, and a plate of pastries from Yaoji Trading Company.
The eldest son had just sat down when he heard the Marquis's words, and he smiled slightly and nodded.
"Very well, since it is the Marquis who has invited me, I must have a good taste of it."
After speaking, he reached for the teapot on the table and poured himself a bowl of tea. However, the tea in the bowl was golden in color and fragrant. Although it was a rare and precious tea, it was definitely not Yunwu tea at first glance. Li Chaosheng was slightly taken aback. Although Yunwu tea was rare, it was not an unattainable thing for the Li family.
Even the Yunwu tea from Mirror Lake in Jinling, which my father possesses in considerable quantities, produces a clear, transparent brew. There's no question of it being golden. Looking around, apart from Marquis Luo Yun, no one seems to be paying attention to this place.
Could there be another reason? Thinking back to the change of venue for today's banquet...
Silently, he reached out, picked up the teacup, and took a small sip. The tea was rich and fragrant, clearly not from within the Great Wall. If his guess was correct, this tea obviously came from the Western Regions. What did this mean?
Just as the eldest son was sipping his tea, Zhang Jinyu also picked up his teacup, took another sip, and thought, "These teas all taste the same, just with different aromas. If someone is dying of thirst, drinking water is worse than tea." He put down his teacup and glanced at Prince Jin out of the corner of his eye.
He kept glancing this way, still feeling uneasy.
suddenly,
On the high platform to the south, the female opera singer, at the end of her song, uttered a high-pitched melody that lingered in the air, so much so that even the veteran actor, Prince Bei Jing Shui Rong, couldn't help but applaud and cheer.
"Well done, truly the Peach Garden Opera Troupe! That last line, 'Peony Tears,' really touched the heart."
"Yes, I used to listen to Kunqu Opera from Jiangnan, which is sung in a soft and melodious way. But now, when the women from our capital sing it, there is a unique kind of heroic spirit in it. I, Wang, like to listen to these the most. I wonder if the young master likes them?"
Prince Mu Shi of Dongping had already turned around and was sitting upright in his seat, facing the eldest son's table. His question seemed somewhat abrupt.
"Of course I like it. Everyone says that Kunqu Opera is the best to listen to on the playlist. Among Kunqu Opera, only the Jiangnan style is sung well. Among the various styles, only the Shuimo style is truly exceptional. However, the Central Plains are dominated by bold and unrestrained voices. If it weren't for the Marquis introducing the Luanshan dialect, the northern part of the Central Plains might have been completely taken over by the soft Jiangnan dialect."
Whether the speaker meant it or not is unknown, but the listener took it to heart. From the moment they started drinking tea to the moment they listened to the music, every word they uttered was a probing question. Judging from today's banquet, it might not necessarily be prepared for the princes. The eldest son, Li Chaosheng, took another sip of tea and praised.
"Excellent tea, truly excellent tea! The tea liquor is a warm, golden hue, and it has a rich aroma. My lord, isn't this the Golden Tea from the Western Regions? How could it be Jiangnan Cloud Mist Tea?"
As for the opera songs, who's good and who's bad is subjective. Some people like southern opera, some like northern opera. Your Highness, I personally don't like opera. Whether it's from the north or south, it all sounds the same to me.
Unhurried and composed, or perhaps even evasive, this masterful maneuver of pushing open the door was perhaps inherited from Chief Minister Li. The crowd paused for a moment, but quickly recovered.
Zhang Jinyu found it boring. Such a superficial test was a low-level tactic. Who was Young Master Li? He was carefully taught by the current Grand Secretary. These things were nothing but child's play to him.
"Young Master, you are quite persuasive. You say you dislike it, but your household has no shortage of such things. I will not beat around the bush and will ask you why Lord Sun would hold the banquet for the Court of State Ceremonial ahead of schedule. You should know that this matter has been entrusted to Prince Jin by the Emperor for preparation, and the Prince's residence has already set the time. As the saying goes, once a military order has been issued, how can it be changed overnight? Is that right?"
The words were so blunt that they drew frequent glances from the princes, especially the Prince of Wei and the Prince of Chu. The two of them were, after all, sitting with the princes, and they changed the time without saying a word. Anyone who didn't know better would think that the princes were not keeping their word. The Prince of Wei also chimed in.
"Yes, the eldest son is also a disciple of Lord Sun. As the old saying goes, there is a reason for everything. It can't be that Lord Sun is afraid he will get hungry quickly and wants to start the banquet early."
At this point, he chuckled. The King of Chu didn't say much, but his phoenix eyes were exceptionally sharp. The actions of the Court of State Ceremonial today had truly humiliated them.
Little did they know that the eldest young master, with a smile on his face, though somewhat flustered inside, remained composed, put down his teacup, and replied;
"Your Highness Prince Wei is indeed insightful. My senior brother has always been fond of indulging in food since childhood. Now that he is an official in the Court of State Ceremonial, he always finishes his meal before coming down to stand guard. I suppose this time, in order to help Your Highness host a banquet, he will be no exception!"
When people are hungry, they inevitably can't help themselves, which is why the banquet time was brought forward. Of course, it's also possible that it was because several princes from the Court of State Ceremonial urged them on, and they readily agreed.
He spoke slowly and deliberately, blatantly lying through his teeth. Even Zhang Jinyu and the Marquis of Xiangyang were dumbfounded, let alone the princes. If one were to talk about shamelessness, everyone would think of Marquis Luoyun, but after seeing this, they were nothing compared to him—not quite as good as him, but certainly not as bad as him either.
King Wei's lips trembled; he swallowed back many words. When a person reaches such a state, it cannot be explained in just a few words.
Zhang Jinyu glanced sideways at the crowd. This person had stunned them with just a few words; they were far too easy to deal with. Little did he know that while the King of Wei remained silent, the King of Chu chuckled.
"The eldest son is indeed very thoughtful. He can even say such things. As the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, do we need him to eat? In that case, let's wait and see. After all, he received a copy of the invitation. I wonder if we can persuade Lord Sun to come."
These words put Sun Boyan in a very difficult position. The fact that the King of Chu used the word "please" clearly revealed his true intentions.
"Your Highness is exaggerating. Now that the princes have arrived in the capital, everything, from their daily needs to their care, has been arranged by Lord Sun. In addition, the assassination attempts on the heirs' sons earlier have left them shaken."
They are all recuperating in the Honglu Temple at the foot of West Mountain. These arrangements need to be made. Lord Sun has been diligent in his duties and shouldn't have incurred His Highness's wrath. Perhaps the princes didn't want to come in the first place.”
After several attempts, Young Master Li grew somewhat annoyed. Even if Senior Brother Sun had done something foolish, the princes had clearly done it intentionally. Since he couldn't do anything about it, why bother pursuing the servant relentlessly?
As soon as this word comes out,
The atmosphere in the flower hall became extremely awkward, especially for His Highness Prince Jin, who was still quite surprised. It was indeed very possible; those arrogant uncles of his would never come to such a humble place.
Furthermore, the other marquises and earls who were invited have not yet arrived, and we do not know what the situation is.
“My lord, what the eldest son said makes sense. I think Lord Sun may have had no choice, but the banquet time was set by my uncles. Now that it’s this late, I wonder if the princes can still arrive on time?”
Looking at the sky outside, it was already close to the end of Chen Shi (7-9 AM). Looking out the window, the situation in the courtyard was clearly visible.
Zhang Jinyu, seated on the west side, also seemed somewhat unsure. He glanced at the two princes opposite him, his eyes flickering with thoughtful consideration. It seemed these princes might not actually be coming.
If they don't come, what's the point of having a banquet? Zhang Jinyu really hadn't thought of that, and couldn't come up with a good solution for the time being.
Just then, suddenly, guards came downstairs and loudly reported,
"Your Highness, the lords of the west of the city, the marquises of the north, and the officials of the east have all sent messengers to report that some matters have arisen at their residences, and they are unable to attend the banquet due to unforeseen circumstances. They ask for your forgiveness." At this moment,
Even those who were not entirely sure knew that the banquet was truly canceled. These people weren't coming, nor were the princes. A good show was ruined without its main characters and audience; no matter how good the show was, it wouldn't work.
inside the house,
Not only were the three princes in a bad mood, but everyone else was also somewhat uneasy. Their expressions were slightly gloomy, and even the eldest prince realized that this matter could not be resolved peacefully, and he was still thinking of a solution.
Unfortunately, what's done is done. Those nobles aren't fools; once they sensed the danger, they wouldn't dare venture into this mess again.
"If you don't want to come, then you don't have to. Since we sent out invitations, the host has done nothing wrong in terms of hospitality. If the guests don't want to come, we can start a separate meal. As for the rest, Your Highness, let's have a banquet. We can't let them go hungry."
Zhang Jinyu swallowed the pastry in her mouth. Since the game ended before it even started, why bother holding on any longer? She might as well take this opportunity to finish her meal and go back to rest properly. She had overexerted herself yesterday and had exhausted a lot of energy. She needed to take a nap to replenish her strength.
Seeing how easily Marquis Luo Yun spoke, Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, also smiled and said;
"The Marquis is certainly living a carefree life, ending the banquet so easily. After today, who knows what the capital will be saying? Shouldn't the Marquis consider this?"
After all, the King of Wei and the King of Chu were only deputy envoys at the banquet. If rumors spread among the people, who knows if the princes were deliberately making fun of the other princes?
Upon hearing this, the King of Wei and the King of Chu indeed looked displeased. Their attempt to steal a chicken had backfired, and even the pastries in front of them seemed tasteless.
"What Your Highness says is true, but those gentlemen are not easy to deal with. Since they made the first move, if Your Highnesses remain indifferent, the rumors might become even worse. Among the common people, they say that the man and woman are in love, and this forced matchmaking would be a real eyesore. Eldest Young Master, what do you think is the best way to resolve this matter?"
Since some of these events were caused by the eldest young master's people, we can't just stand by and watch, can we?
The princes pondered for a moment and all agreed that the Marquis's words were true. If they remained silent, the Emperor might also be enraged, which would be a greater loss than gain.
All eyes turned to the eldest son of the Li family. Everyone said civil officials were cunning and treacherous; they wondered what his plan was. Li Chaosheng hesitated. He feared he had miscalculated by coming here today, but since he was already involved, some things couldn't be avoided.
Given this, looking towards the Prince of Jin in the main seat, the situation is now somewhat ambiguous.
"My lord, please don't try to provoke me. Senior Brother Sun's actions were rash, but they may have given the princes an opportunity. At the court meeting, the emperor asked the three princes to host a banquet for the princes, which is a proper courtesy for members of the imperial family. However, unforeseen circumstances occurred, which is not unreasonable. But the princes were dissatisfied and acted hastily, which led to oversights that no one noticed."
A glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes. Perhaps what he had done today would reach His Majesty's ears. Whether his entry into the cabinet could be expedited depended on this.
Zhang Jinyu looked suspicious. The fact that they came up with a solution in just a few words suggested they had planned it all along, not just that they were confident. He glanced at the Marquis of Xiangyang, who also looked puzzled. Had these two come together in a premeditated manner?
"What does the eldest young master mean?"
"Haha, Lord Marquis, there's no need to rush. Since the invitations have been sent and the time has been set by the princes, as the saying goes, it's the thought that counts, and the invitation is enough even if you can't be there in person."
Or you could say that sending a gift even if you can't be there in person is just something people say, and it's a bit stingy, so let's put it another way.
Regardless of what the princes thought, Zhang Jinyu's eyes widened, and he thought to himself, "What a talent! Inviting the princes doesn't necessarily mean saying that they will come. If you announce to the public that the princes have come, who knows if it's true or not? This is really clever. A civil official's mouth can kill without bloodshed, and it's not without reason."
The three princes, Jin, Wei, and Chu, remained silent. If it weren't for Young Master Li's explanation, which readily resolved today's predicament, they truly wouldn't know how to end things. Clearly, the Grand Secretary's instruction was well-intentioned. But how should they receive the invitation?
"Young Master is indeed quick-witted; I am extremely surprised. But I wonder how to resolve the issue of this welcoming invitation?"
"Your Highness, please do not be in a hurry. Since these are welcoming invitations, Your Highness should write several more copies. Then, have your personal guards prepare several carriages, raise flags, and have them circle around the area. After that, we will naturally go down and personally perform the formalities, making sure the gesture is complete."
With a smile on his face, Li Chaosheng recounted the story in a leisurely manner, which attracted the attention of the people of the capital. As more people learned about it, there was no longer any question of whether it was true or false.
"Good, good, this plan is excellent. My lords, how should we arrange the carriages?"
The question was directed at Marquis Luoyun and Marquis Xiangyang. The intricacies of this matter are not something the princes should meddle in.
Bai Guangju was in a dilemma. He didn't have that kind of guts, but now that the Prince of Jin had spoken, he was already on board the pirate ship. How could he not do it?
"My lord, what do you say?"
His tone was somewhat awkward, and he could only turn to look at Luo Yunhou, his expression inevitably pleading. Zhang Jinyu, however, remained calm and composed, and replied.
"This is not difficult. It's just a matter of going around the city so that the people can see it. But how would the people know what the prince's banner looks like? There are five princes in total, so we can borrow five carriages from several princes, raise the prince's banner, remove the other decorations, and have the guards leading the way shout loudly. That's it. As for whether the people are inside or not, who would know?"
Of course, the carriages borrowed were just enough for the three princes and two dukes. The others had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, sighed. This was the first time they'd been pushed to this point. It seemed these vassal kings were determined to humiliate the palace. He wondered what the Emperor Emeritus would do at the court assembly that day.
“Very well, since Your Excellency has spoken, I will certainly lend you a hand. Men, prepare the carriage.”
Once it happened, it happened again. The other princes also nodded. Seeing that everyone agreed, Zhang Jinyu didn't hesitate either. He stood up and cupped his hands in greeting to them.
"Time is of the essence, so please, Brother Bai and the eldest young master, go downstairs—no, wait outside in the courtyard."
He glanced back at Ningbian and gave the order;
"Immediately prepare the guard carriage. Have the Imperial Guards raise the flags high and have them circle around from west to south, then return from the east. Don't be slow, and be arrogant. Go quickly."
"Yes, Lord Marquis."
Ning Bian clasped his hands in acceptance of the order and left. Immediately, a commotion arose in the courtyard, filled with commands to assemble the troops. Soon, the Imperial Guards assembled and began to travel westward along the road on the south bank of Qinghu Lake. Five carriages were surrounded by a large number of guards and Imperial Guards. At the very front, Ning Bian personally led a hundred golden-armored personal guards to clear the way.
Following behind were carriages, along with three eunuchs from the prince's residence, who also sat at the front of the carriages, clearly indicating that they were traveling as nobles.
The five carriages, spaced far apart, headed west in a grand procession. Upon reaching the western street corner, the procession slowed, and Ningbian gestured, causing the entire group to disperse and proceed in a loop around Nanqiao Market.
Immediately, several eunuchs alighted from the carriage, accompanied by a group of junior eunuchs and guards from the Prince's residence. They came to the front of the caravan, holding riding whips, and began to drive the people away, cursing and swearing in their hoarse voices.
"Get out of the way! The Prince of the Court of State Ceremonies is going to a banquet and has been delayed. You lowly commoners will be in deep trouble."
(End of this chapter)