Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Jade Pendant
At the gates of the capital, a constant stream of people came and went, and the soldiers on duty rigorously checked the passes they held. This was, after all, the heart of Daliang, the emperor's throne, so strict checks on those coming and going were only natural.
The city walls, constructed of ancient stone bricks, reveal this place's rich history. The plaque above the city gate, inscribed in gold on a red background, reads "Yong'an City," a name that has remained unfaded for centuries. It's said to have been personally inscribed by the then-Taizu Emperor. However, a later emperor gave himself the posthumous title Yong'an. It's absurd to think that no emperor's posthumous title was ever determined during his lifetime.
Although the ministers at that time strongly opposed it, Emperor Yong'an still insisted on his own way. Later, in order not to offend the emperor's name, people only called this place the capital. Gradually, the three words "Yong'an City" were forgotten.
Among the pedestrians waiting in line for inspection, one group stood out. Although they were a single, seemingly unremarkable carriage, and the woman sitting outside was a servant, her attire was far superior to that of a typical young lady from a wealthy family. She wore a bright red dress and a long sword at her waist. The sword itself looked no ordinary, but such attire was uncommon in the capital.
The noble ladies of the capital had always been drawn to poetry, song, calligraphy, and painting. It was unheard of for any daughter to enjoy wielding swords and spears. The woman before them had a certain air of a woman of the underworld, but she was not one they could offend. The soldiers in charge of inspections, who daily interacted with the children of wealthy families passing through the city gates, were the most adept at reading people's expressions and flattering the powerful and trampling on the weak.
If a maidservant serving outside was so extraordinary, they wondered how stunning the young master or young lady in the carriage must be. Soon, someone approached the carriage with a fawning smile on their face and an indescribable level of respect in their tone. "Young lady, why are you nobles waiting with the common people? Why don't you come with me for a quick inspection? It won't waste your time."
Such things happened at the city gates everywhere. Since ancient times, there has been a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. How could nobles and commoners be allowed to march together in the same procession? Seeing him approach, the maid looked puzzled. After hearing his words, she didn't speak. She just stood quietly beside the carriage, listening attentively, as if waiting for the person inside to speak.
"There's no need to trouble the general. It will only take a few more quarters of an hour." The young man's gentle voice came from the carriage. Unlike those arrogant dandies, there was no arrogance in the young man's tone.
The young man's voice, like the thousand-year-old unmelted snow on the snowy mountains, soothed the heat in his heart, and he stood there for a long time, stunned and unable to recover. Seeing that his invitation was rejected by the young man, he was not angry, but instead worried that he had blasphemed this noble young man.
The crowd ahead gradually thinned. Some passed inspection and were allowed into the city, while others were stopped outside the gates. Soon, it was the carriage's turn. A soldier approached cautiously, his voice low, fearing to disturb the nobleman inside. "Sir, may I see your pass?" This wasn't a mandatory rule, but since he saw the young man didn't want to be treated any differently, he followed the customary procedure.
The car window curtain was lifted a little, and a white arm stretched out from inside. The boy held a pass made of white jade in his slender fingers, but this flawless white jade seemed to be overshadowed in the boy's palm.
He was now even more certain of the young man's distinguished background. Ordinary passes were made of bamboo or silver, but the one he saw was made of jade. This wasn't something one could obtain simply by having money; it depended on one's social status. He just didn't know whose son this was; he had never heard of him before. The soldier didn't dare touch the pass, but simply glanced at it before saying, "Sir, please enter the city."
The young man withdrew his arm upon hearing the voice. The soldier looked up and caught a glimpse of the young man's profile in the carriage. It was a glimpse he would never forget. Before he could recover, the maid-like woman pressed a silver ingot into his hand. She placed her hand in the soldier's ear and whispered, "Why are the inspections in the capital so strict these days? Has something serious happened?"
He reached out to take the silver ingot, glancing around. Seeing no one was paying attention, he carefully tucked it into his waistband. He then waved to the girl, his smile growing even wider. He lowered his voice and said, "It's not that the war with the Northern Rong is escalating. A few months ago, the Northern Rong sent several assassins to assassinate Your Majesty. While Your Majesty wasn't injured, the Emperor's safety is of paramount importance. The Imperial Guards who guarded the palace that day were punished, so those of us guarding the city gates must also exercise caution."
The girl thanked him and drove off in the carriage. He watched the carriage depart, his mind still reminiscing about the young man's face. The fleeting glimpse he had just caught seemed like a dream. But the silver ingot still warm around his waist reminded him that it was all real. He sighed inwardly, worthy of being the son of a wealthy family. He was so generous, and the rewards he gave were enough to equal his monthly salary for dozens of months.
As the young girl drove her carriage along the vast streets of the capital, weaving through the alleys and streets, she suddenly felt a surge of powerful internal energy. Though it was only for a moment, she knew her master was angry. But nothing had happened just now; her master wouldn't get angry unless someone disturbed his sleep. Then, the soldier's words suddenly flashed through her mind, and the words "Your Majesty has been assassinated" lingered in her mind.
Hong Ting had previously told her that the young master had accidentally saved the emperor in Jiangnan, and the emperor had pursued him relentlessly. It was a pity that the young master had no interest in the emperor at all. A smile curled up at the corner of her mouth, and she thought to herself, "Two wooden men!" The young master didn't look like he had no interest in the emperor at all, but he probably didn't even realize it at the moment.
Originally, Hongting was supposed to accompany the young master to the capital, but because the former had already appeared in Jiangnan, the young master did not want to attract attention this time, so she was replaced. Originally, she had no interest in the life full of rules in the capital, but now she has changed her mind.
Life in the capital wasn't as boring as he'd imagined. Hua Ling felt a surge of anticipation for the future as he continued driving his carriage through the street vendors. As the carriage sped forward, the surrounding buildings grew increasingly prosperous, from the bluestone-walled homes of ordinary people to the dark blue official residences and even more luxurious princely mansions. The carriage stopped directly in front of a mansion.
Two lifelike stone carvings of qilin stood before the mansion's gate. The qilin appeared to be galloping, its right paw resting on a stone brick. The sculptures were even more impressive than those at the Sun Mansion in Jizhou. Looking up, one could see the red-lacquered, gold-lettered plaque reading "Duke Ying's Mansion." The plaque looked quite old, its outer wood rotten in places, but this only served to highlight the mansion's heritage.
The first Duke of Yingguo was a hero who helped establish the country alongside Emperor Taizu. The title was passed down through generations, and the current Duke of Yingguo, Gu Cheng, not only inherited the title but also held the position of Minister of Revenue. He remained independent of factional disputes, and even the emperor trusted him.
He married Liang Qiulan, the eldest daughter of the Liang family in Taiyuan. Although the Liang family in Taiyuan was not a prominent family, their family had been engaged in business for generations, and the wealth accumulated over the years must be astonishing.
Moreover, Liang Qiulan and the current Queen Mother had some connections. Although the Queen Mother was devoted to worshipping Buddha, she was also very protective of her own shortcomings. If something really happened to Liang Qiulan, the Queen Mother would definitely not stand idly by.
With so few clan members in the capital, the Gu Mansion had become a highly sought-after destination. People were constantly coming and going every day, but without exception, they were all turned away. After the young woman stopped the carriage, she walked to the gatehouse and pulled out a jade pendant from her sleeve.
The people around were watching with a curious attitude and contempt in their hearts. So many dignitaries had been turned away at the gatehouse, and a woman who came from nowhere was thinking of getting involved in the Gu family's immense wealth. It was really a daydream.
The concierge looked at the jade pendant the woman handed him, figuring she was just like everyone else, trying to curry favor with the Gu family. He felt a touch of disdain, wondering if the dignified Gu family would refuse such a mere jade pendant. But the servants of a noble family were all well-educated and polite, so he didn't show any sign of surprise. He was about to tell the woman to return home quickly, but he caught a glimpse of the patterns on the jade pendant, startled, and his expression shifted.
The onlookers saw him lose his composure for the first time, and they were curious about what the woman had brought out that had caused the doorman to lose his composure. You know, there were many high-ranking officials in the court who came and went in front of the Gu Mansion, but even when facing them, the doorman's expression was not as he was now.
The doorman could hardly conceal his excitement, and did not dare to neglect the woman in front of him. He said respectfully, "Miss, please wait a moment. Let me go in and report." Then he ran out. The people outside saw this and their doubts deepened again. The woman looked at his receding back with a smile on her face.
He ran into the housekeeper Jiang Yi. Seeing him running around the house, Jiang Yi started to scold him, "You are so impatient! How can you behave so rudely?"
He excitedly showed the jade pendant to Jiang Yi. He had carefully held it against his chest during his previous run, fearing it might get bumped or dented. Jiang Yi took the jade pendant from him, examining it for a moment. He suddenly raised his head, his voice low, but the excitement in his eyes unconcealed. "Where did this jade pendant come from?"
The man replied, "A woman gave it to me. I initially thought it was someone else who usually brings gifts. I was about to refuse it when I realized the patterns on the jade pendant matched the portrait you gave us."
After hearing his answer, Jiang Yi immediately asked, "Where is that woman? Where is she now? Have you ever asked her where she got the jade pendant?"
A trace of guilt flashed across his face, and he scratched his hair helplessly: "I just wanted to let you see if this jade pendant is real first, so I forgot to ask."
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